LIBRA.  HY 

OF   THE 

Theological   Seminary, 

PRINCETON,    N.  J. 

case, .^^^d^. -  ivision.:^^^ 

Slielf,         Tt^S^                   -n...^^-*-- 
Book,        

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IN    MEMORIAM. 


^i,^  i  ■•.-•^  ^, 


CHARLESTON,  S.  C. 

WALKER,    EVANS   &   COGSWELL,    PRINTERS, 

Nos.  J  Broad  and  109  East  Bay  Streets. 
1874. 


A  noble  mission  is  fulfilled, 

The  dear,  brave,  faithful  lips  are  stilled, 

The  great  heart's  dumb  ; 
The  busy  hands  find  rest  at  last. 
The  work  is  o'er,  the  conflict's  past. 

And  peace  is  come  ! 

The  "  faith  "  was  "  kept,"  the  "  course"  was  run, 
The  final  vict'ry  grandly  won  ; 

And  now  the  King 
Doth  grace  that  brow,  all  seamed  with  scars. 
With  wondrous  "  crown  "  of  many  stars, 

While  anthems  rine. 


["  Charleston  Dailytl^^^ai^^^^jfa^^tSgust  -zist,   1873."] 

THE  REV.  THOMAS  SMYTH,  D.  D. 

The  community  will  be  pained  to  learn  of  the  de- 
mise of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Smyth,  D.  D.,  which  event 
occurred  at  his  residence  in  Meeting  street,  yesterday 
afternoon,  at  five  o'clock.  Dr.  Smyth  was  born  in 
Belfast,  Ireland,  in  1808,  and  was  educated  at  the  col- 
lege in  that  place,  from  which  he  graduated  with  the 
highest  honors.  After  leaving  college  he  went  to 
London  and  began  to  prepare  himself  for  the  duties 
of  the  ministry  by  the  study  of  theology.  After  a 
successful  course  of  studies,  in  which  he  gained  dis- 
tinguished honors,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years, 
he  determined  to  come  to  America.  He  arrived  in 
this  country  in  the  year  1830,  and  at  once  resumed  his 
studies  at  Princeton  College,  New  Jersey.  He  re- 
mained there  about  one  year,  and  at  the  expiration  of 
that  time  was  about  to  start  upon  a  Missionary  tour 
to  Florida,  when  a  circumstance  occurred  which  had 
an  important  bearing  upon  his  future  life.  A  letter 
was  received  by  the  Faculty  of  the  College  from  the 
congregation  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  of 
this  city,  asking  them  to  recommend  a  young  Minister 
to  supply  the  pulpit  of  that  Church.  The  Faculty 
unanimously  and  cordially  recommended  Dr.  Smyth, 
and  earnestly  urged  his  acceptance  of  the  trust.  In 
compliance  with  this  request,  he  left  Princeton,  and 
arrived  in  Charleston  in  the  year  1831.  Immediately 
upon  his  arrival  he  entered  upon  the  discharge  of 
those  duties  which  he  so  faithfully  performed  during 
a  period  of  years  extending  over  almost  a  half  a  cen- 


tury.  In  July,  1832,  soon  after  his  arrival  in  this  city, 
he  married  the  eldest  daughter  of  Mr.  James  Adger. 
He  continued  to  fill  the  pulpit  of  the  Second  Presby- 
terian Church  (better  known  of  late  as  Dr.  Smyth's 
Church,  from  his  long  pastorate)  until  about  two 
years  ago,  when  failing  health  compelled  him  to  re- 
sign the  active  duties  of  his  position  to  more  youthful 
hands.  He  was,  however,  at  once  elected  Honorary 
Pastor,  and  frequently  conducted  divine  service  even 
up  to  within  a  short  time  of  his  death.  In  Septem- 
ber, 1843,  the  College  at  Princeton,  N.  J.,  conferred 
upon  him  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity.  Dr. 
Smyth  was  a  man  of  liberal  education  and  large  at- 
tainments. He  was  indefatigable  in  the  pursuit  of 
knowledge,  and  in  his  early  life  graduated  both  at 
medicine  and  law.  He  is  the  author  of  over  thirty 
works  upon  theological  subjects,  which  survive  him, 
and  which  give  him  a  deserved  eminence  in  the  world 
of  letters.  In  1840  he  published  in  book  form  a 
series  of  lectures  on  the  "  Prelatical  Doctrine  of  Apos- 
tolic Succession,"  which  was  very  widely  read  and 
commented  upon.  About  the  same  time  he  issued 
an  "  Ecclesiastical  Catechism  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,"  and  both  volumes  were  by  the  Synod  of 
South  Carolina  and  Georgia  "  cordially  recommended 
as  works  of  high  value."  A  work  on  "  Ecclesiastical 
Republicanism  "  was  published  soon  after,  and  this 
was  followed  by  his  celebrated  book,  "  Presbytery 
and  Not  Prelacy,"  which  is  still  considered  high 
authority  in  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  was  a 
zealous  and  faithful  worker  in  the  "  vineyard  of  the 
Lord,"  and  his  long  life  of  usefulness  abounded  in 
good  works.  In  the  prime  of  his  manhood  he  was 
stricken  with  paralysis,  and  in  1853,  while  on  his  re- 


turn  from  the  Presbyterian  General  Assembly,  he  was 
again  stricken  so  severely  that  for  a  time  all  hopes  of 
his  life  were  given  up.  His  indomitable  energy  of 
will,  however,  sustained  him,  and  although  ever  af- 
terwards a  cripple,  he  persevered  to  the  end  in  the 
work  to  which  he  had  devoted  his  life.  While,  how- 
ever, the  vigor  of  his  intellect  was  preserved  to  the 
end  of  his  life,  his  health  became  greatly  impaired, 
and  when  the  summons  came  it  found  him  ready  and 
willing  to  give  an  account  of  his  stewardship.  His 
private  virtues  matched  the  purity  of  his  public  life, 
and  his  memory  will  long  be  revered  by  the  flock  to 
whose  welfare  the  labor  of  his  life  was  devoted. 


['^Charleston  E'vening    Chronicle,''''  August  list,   1873.] 

DEATH  OF  AN  EMINENT  CLERGYMAN. 

Rev.  Thomas  Smyth,  D.  D.,  late  Pastor  of  the  Se- 
cond Presbyterian  Church  of  this  city,  died  at  his 
residence  in  Meeting  street  yesterday  afternoon,  at  five 
o'clock.  Dr.  Smyth  was  born  in  Belfast,  Ireland,  in 
1808,  and  was  educated  at  the  College  in  that  place, 
from  which  he  graduated  with  the  highest  honors. 
After  leaving  College  he  went  to  London  and  began 
to  prepare  himself  for  the  duties  of  the  ministry 
by  the  study  of  theology.  After  a  successful 
course  of  studies,  in  which  he  gained  distinguished 
honors,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years  he  deter- 
mined to  come  to  America.  He  arrived  in  this 
country  in  the  year  1830,  and  at  once   resumed  his 


studies  at  Princeton  College,  New  Jersey.  He  re- 
mained there  about  one  year,  and  at  the  expiration  of 
that  time  accepted  a  call  from  the  Second  Presbyte- 
rian Church,  and  arrived  in  Charleston  in  the  year 
1 83 1.  Immediately  upon  his  arrival  he  entered  upon 
the  discharge  of  those  duties  which  he  so  faithfully 
performed  during  a  period  of  years  extending  over 
almost  a  half  century.  In  July,  1832,  he  married  the 
eldest  daughter  of  Mr.  James  Adger.  He  continued 
to  fill  the  pulpit  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church, 
(better  known  as  Dr.  Smyth's  Church,  from  his  long 
pastorate,)  until  about  two  years  ago,  when  failing 
health  compelled  him  to  resign  the  active  duties  of 
his  position  to  more  youthful  hands.  He  was,  how- 
ever, at  once  elected  Honorary  Pastor,  and  frequently 
conducted  divine  service  even  up  to  within  a  short 
time  of  his  death. 

Dr.  Smyth  was  the  author  of  several  works  on  theo- 
logical subjects,  the  most  celebrated  of  which  was  the 
book  bearing  the  title,  "  Presbytery  not  Prelacy." 

The  deceased  clergyman  was  greatly  beloved  by  his 
flock,  and  widely  esteemed  outside  of  his  congrega- 
tion, for  his  culture,  benevolence  and  many  private 
virtues. 


[^'CAar/eston  Daily  Neivs  and  Courier,''  August  7,2(i,   1873.] 

THE  LATE  DR.  SMYTH. 

The  funeral  services  of  the  late  Dr.  Thomas  Smyth 
will  take  place  at  twelve  o'clock  to-day,  at  the  Second 
Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  he  was  for  over  forty 
years  the  beloved  pastor. 


FUNERAL  NOTICE. 

SMYTH.— Died  in  this  city,  on  the  20th  of  Au- 
gust, 1873,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Smyth,  D.  D.,  in  the  66th 
year  of  his  age. 

His  friends  and  acquaintances  are  invited  to  attend 
his  funeral  services  to-day,  at  twelve  o'clock,  at  the 
Second  Presbyterian  Church. 


['■'^Ckarleiton  E-vening  Chronicle"  August  lid,  1873.] 

FUNERAL  OBSEQUIES  OF  DR.  SMYTH. 

Impressive  funeral  services  were  held  to-day,  at  12 
o'clock,  in  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church,  over  the 
remains  of  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Smyth,  who  was  the  be- 
loved Pastor  of  the  Church  for  a  period  of  over  forty 
years.  A  large  number  of  our  most  prominent  citi- 
zens attended,  and  the  sadness  visible  in  the  coun- 
tenances of  all  present  revealed  how  deeply  was  felt 
the  loss  of  this  noted  clergyman  and  venerated  pastor. 

The  services  were  conducted  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Brackett,  Assistant  Minister  of  the  Church,  assisted  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Girardeau,  and  a  choir  composed  of  Miss 
Chisolm,  soprano.  Miss  Hanikan,  alto,  Mr.  McCor- 
mick,  tenor,  and  Mr.  Darby,  bass.  As  the  coffin  was 
borne  into  the  Church,  the  organist  of  the  Church 
played  a  solemn  dirge,  followed  by  the  choir  chant- 
ing "  Nearer  my  God  to  Thee."  Rev.  Mr.  Brackett 
then  read  a  portion  of  the  Psalms  bearing  upon  the 
death  of  God's  elect,  as  tending  to  be  a  source  of 
comfort  and  consolation  to  the  relatives  and  friends  of 
the  departed.      The  Minister  was  deeply  affected,  and 


lO 


at  times  so  overcome  was  he,  that  his  voice  was 
scarcely  audible. 

Rev.  Mr.  Girardeau  then  addressed  the  vast  audi- 
ence, and  as  his  words  of  commendation  of  the  dead, 
and  encouragement  to  the  living,  fell  upon  their  ears, 
tears  freely  flowed,  and  the  scene  was  deeply  affect- 
ing. The  choir  then  sang,  at  the  request  of  the 
family,  "Jesus,  lover  of  my  soul." 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  services  the  remains  were 
borne  to  the  churchyard  adjoining,  and  placed  beside 
the  sleeping  children  of  the  deceased,  in  the  lot  known 
as  the  Adger  lot,  and  then  the  sorrowful  multitude 
turned  away,  leaving  the  dead  in  its  last  repose  to 
await  the  final  summons  to  appear  before  the  great 
white  throne,  to  receive  the  reward  due  his  great 
labors  among  men. 


\^^ Charleston   Dailf   Neivs  and   Courier"   August   T-^J,  1873.] 

OBSEQUIES  OF  THE  REV.   DR.  SMYTH. 

The  funeral  services  of  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas 
Smyth  took  place  at  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church 
at  noon  yesterday.  The  interior  of  the  building  was 
draped  in  mourning,  the  pulpit  and  reading  desk 
being  covered  with  black  bombazine  and  crape,  and 
the  pillars  being  festooned  with  the  same  material. 
From  the  brackets  on  each  side  of  the  pulpit  were 
hung  wreaths  of  white  flowers.  Long  before  the  hour 
appointed  for  the  services,  the  body  of  the  Church  was 
crowded  and  the  north  gallery  was  filled  with  colored 
people.  At  twelve  o'clock  the  funeral  cortege  arrived 
at  the  Church,  and  the  coffin  was  taken  from  the 
hearse  by  the  pall-bearers  and  conveyed  to  the  foot  of 


II 


the  altar,  in  which  the  deceased  had  ministered  for  so 
many  years.  The  pall-bearers  were  selected  from 
each  of  the  Protestant  denominations  in  the  city,  and 
consisted  of  the  following  clergymen  :  Rev.  John  For- 
rest, D.  D.,  of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian  Church  ;  Rev. 
Jno.  T.  Wightman,  D.  D.,  of  Bethel  Methodist  Church; 
Rev.  W.  S.  Bowman,  of  the  Wentworth  street  Luthe- 
ran Church  ;  .Rev.  John  Johnson,  of  St.  Philip's  Epis- 
copal Church ;  Rev.  W.  H.  Adams,  of  the  Circular 
(Congregational)  Church ;  Rev.  L.  H.  Shuck,  of  the 
First  Baptist  Church ;  Rev.  W.  C.  Dana,  of  the  Cen- 
tral Presbyterian  Church ;  Rev.  R.  D.  Smart,  of  the 
Spring  street  Methodist  Church.  When  the  remains 
were  placed  in  the  Church,  the  choir  sang  in  ex- 
quisite and  touching  strains  the  hymn  "  Nearer  my 
God  to  Thee." 

The  Rev.  G.  R.  Brackett  then  read  the  following 
selections  from  the  Scriptures  : 

"  We  are  strangers  and  sojourners,  as  all  our  fath- 
ers were."  "  One  generation  passeth  away  and 
another  cometh."  "  Your  fathers,  where  are  they? 
and  the  prophets,  do  they  live  forever  ?" 

"  Abraham  gave  up  the  Ghost  and  died  in  a  good 
old  age,  an  old  man,  and  full  of  years,  and  was 
gathered  to  his  people." 

"  When  Jacob  had  made  an  end  of  commanding 
his  sons,  he  gathered  up  his  feet  into  the  bed,  and 
yielded  up  the  Ghost,  and  was  gathered  unto  his 
people." 

"  Joseph  saw  Ephraim's  children  of  the  third 
generation,  and  Joseph  said  unto  his  brethren,  I  die ; 
so  Joseph  died,  being  one  hundred  and  ten  years  old." 


12 


"  And  Aaron  died  on  the  top  of  the  Mount ;  and 
when  all  the  congregation  saw  that  Aaron  was  dead, 
they  mourned  for  him  thirty  days,  even  all  the  house 
of  Israel." 

"  And  Samuel  died,  and  all  the  Israelites  were 
gathered  together,  and  lamented  him,  in  his  house  at 
Ramah." 

"  And  David  said  to  Jonathan  and  to  all  the  people 
that  were  with  him,  rend  your  clothes  and  gird  you 
with  sackcloth  and  mourn  before  Abner.  And  King 
David  himself  followed  the  bier,  and  lifted  up  his 
voice  and  wept  at  the  grave  of  Abner.  And  the  King 
said  unto  his  servants,  know  ye  not  that  there  is  a 
Prince  and  a  great  man  fallen  this  day  in  Israel." 

"  Lettest  now  thy  servant  depart  in  peace,  for  mine 
eyes  have  seen  Thy  salvation.  But  all  the  days  of 
my  appointed  time  will  I  wait  until  my  change  come. 
And  behold  this  day  I  am  going  the  way  of  all  the 
earth,  and  ye  know  in  all  your  hearts  and  in  all  your 
souls  that  not  one  thing  hath  failed  of  all  the  good 
things  which  the  Lord  your  God  spake  concerning 
you.  All  have  come  to  pass  unto  you,  and  not  one 
thing  hath  failed.  Therefore,  now  O  Lord  take,  I  be- 
seech thee,  my  life  from  me,  for  it  is  better  for  me  to 
die  than  to  live.  What  is  my  strength  that  I  should 
hope?  And  what  is  my  end  that  I  should  prolong 
my  life  ?  My  soul  is  weary  of  my  life.  I  would  not 
live  alway.  Let  me  alone,  for  my  days  are  vanity." 
"  Thou  shalt  go  to  thy  fathers  in  peace.  Thou  shalt 
be  buried  in  a  good  old  age.  Thou  shalt  come  to 
thy  grave  in  a  full  age,  like  as  a  shock  of  corn  cometh 
in  its  season.  Mark  the  perfect  man,  and  behold  the 
upright,  for  the  end  of  that  man  is  peace.  Precious 
in  the  sight  of  the  Lord  is  the  death  of  his  saints. 


13 


The  righteous  hath  hope  in  his  death.  Blessed  are 
the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord,  and  their  works  do 
follow  them.  To  be  absent  from  the  body,  is  to  be 
present  with  the  Lord.  To-day  thou  shalt  be  with 
me  in  Paradise." 

"  There  remaineth  a  rest  to  the  people  of  God.  As 
for  me,  I  will  behold  thy  face  in  righteousness.  I 
shall  be  satisfied  when  I  awake  with  thy  likeness. 
For  we  shall  be  like  him  when  we  see  him  as  he  is, 
and  so  shall  we  be  ever  present  with  the  Lord." 

"  Blessed  be  the  God  and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  who  has  begotten  us  unto  a  lively  hope  by 
the  resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ  from  the  dead.  Who 
hath  abolished  death  and  brought  life  and  immor- 
tality to  light  through  the  Gospel.  Now  is  Christ 
risen  from  the  dead  and  become  the  first  fruits 
of  them  that  slept.  It  is  sown  a  natural  body,  it  is 
raised  a  spiritual  body.  It  is  sown  in  corruption,  it 
is  raised  in  incorruption.  It  is  sown  in  dishonor,  it 
is  raised  in  glory.  It  is  sown  in  weakness,  it  is  raised 
in  power.  As  we  have  borne  the  image  of  the 
earthy,  we  shall  also  bear  the  image  of  the  heavenly. 
For  this  corruptible  must  put  on  incorruption  and 
this  mortal  must  put  on  immortality.  Then  shall  be 
brought  to  pass  the  saying  that  is  written,  death  is 
swallowed  up  in  victory.  O  death  where  is  thy 
sting,  O  grave  where  is  thy  victory.  The  sting  of 
death  is  sin,  and  the  strength  of  sin  is  the  law.  But 
thanks  be  to  God  who  giveth  us  the  victory,  through 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 

"  Let  me  die  the  death  of  the  righteous,  and  let 
my  last  end  be  like  his.  Blessed  are  they  that 
mourn,  for  they  shall  be  comforted.  I  will  never 
leave  thee  nor  forsake  thee.      As  thy  day  is,  so  shall 


14 


thy  strength  be.  My  grace  shall  be  sufficient  for 
thee.  Cast  thy  burden  on  the  Lord,  and  he  will  sus- 
tain thee.  Wherefore  comfort  one  another  with  these 
words," 

After  the  reading  of  the  foregoing  passages,  Rev. 
Mr.  Brackett  delivered,  with  much  feeling,  the  follow- 
ing eulogy  of  the  deceased  : 

DISCOURSE  OF  THE  REV.  G.  R.  BRACKETT, 

"There  is  something  touching,"  says  a  recent  jour- 
nalist, "  in  the  steady  way  in  which  the  noble  army  of 
good  men,  who  have  been  fighting  the  battles  of  god- 
liness and  humanity,  pass  steadily  out  of  our  sight,  as 
they  pursue  their  upward  march;  To  look  at  the  list 
of  well  known  and  revered  names  which  are  monthly 
added  to  our  necrologic  list,  it  would  almost  seem  as 
if  the  world  were  fast  becoming  depopulated  of  its 
moral  heroes." 

The  lives  of  so  few  of  mankind  possess  any  appa- 
rent significance,  or  leave  any  visible  impress  upon 
their  generation,  that  the  removal  of  one  of  those  re- 
presentative men — those  master  spirits  that  mould 
society  and  give  complexion  to  an  age,  is  felt  to  be  an 
irreparable  loss,  and  occasions  universal  mourning. 
Through  the  telescope  of  God's  omniscience, 

"  Who  sees  with  equal  eye,  as  God  of  all, 
A  hero  perish  or  a  sparrow  fall," 

every  star  may  be  a  sun,  and  the  humblest  life  expand 
into  boundless  glory,  honor  and  immortality.  But  to 
us  "  there  is  one  glory  of  the  sun,  and  another  glory 
of  the  moon,  and  another  glory  of  the  stars,  and  one 
star  differeth  from  another  .star  in  glory." 


15 


This  inspired  analogy  furnishes  us  with  a  principle 
of  classification  of  human  merit.  The  thousand  dim 
lights  that  are  daily  disappearing  from  the  moral  fir- 
mament are  missed  scarcely  less  than  the  transient 
meteors  that  one  may  see,  at  almost  any  hour  of  the 
night,  shooting  athwart  the  heavens ;  or  than  the 
quenching  of  a  multitude  of  those  distant  orbs  that 
twinkle  in  the  far-off  abyss.  Others,  like  planets  and 
satellites,  drawn  by  a  mental  and  moral  attraction 
within  the  solar  influence  of  the  great  and  good,  re- 
flect their  borrowed  beams,  and,  like  the  "  moon, 
walking  in  her  brightness,"  illumine  a  wide  sphere  in 
our  dark  world,  which,  but  for  this  class,  would  re- 
main in  hopeless  night.  But  others,  still,  are  suns — 
"vast,  central,  living  fires,"  shining  with  a  light  of 
their  own,  absorbing  light  from  every  radiant  centre 
into  the  beams  of  their  own  genius,  and  pouring  forth 
an  exhaustless  flood  to  feed  the  planetary  spheres 
that  circle  around  them,  and  carry  beauty,  fragrance 
and  fruitfulness  to  ten  thousand  desert  places  of  the 
earth. 

It  is  such  a  central  sun  that  is  here  extinguished. 
Had  it  suddenly  expired  in  the  zenith  of  its  glory,  we 
should  have  been  shocked,  stunned  and  bewildered, 
as  if  the  sun  should  go  down  at  noon.  But  the  slow 
and  painful  eclipse  does  not  alter  the  reality  of  our 
loss,  while  it  adds  to  the  tenderness  of  our  grief,  as  it 
also  added  to  that  spiritual  glory  which  the  eye  of 
faith  could  discern  through  the  opaque  disc  of  this 
corruptible  mortality,  and  through  the  deepening 
gloom  of  death.  In  his  own  eloquent  language,  in 
reference  to  Dr.  Chalmers,  we  might  say  of  him,  "  he 
will  be  found,  like  the  sun,  to  have  been  greater  in  his 
setting  than  in  his  noonday  splendor,"  contemplating 


i6 


his  spiritual  glory  as  well  as  that  posthumous,  world- 
wide influence  which  made  him  "  one  of  those  stars 
which  are  visible  in  both  hemispheres,  and  which  set 
in  one  only  to  rise  upon  the  other  with  continued  and 
increasing  lustre." 

We  feel  constrained  by  the  impulse  of  a  natural  and 
noble  instinct  to  pause,  when  "  a  prince  and  a  great 
man  has  fallen  in  Israel, '  and  do  honor  to  his  memo- 
ry. There  is  a  homage,  a  reverence  due  to  men  of 
distinctive  and  original  character,  whose  intellectual 
eminence  is  crowned  with  the  glory  of  moral  excel- 
lence, which,  so  far  from  making  gods  of  men,  is  the 
very  sentiment  that,  when  sanctified,  terminates  in 
divine  worship. 

But  it  is  not  our  purpose  to-day  to  analyze  the 
genius  and  character  of  this  remarkable  man,  who 
still  holds  authority  over  us,  though  "  translated  to 
brighter  realms."  In  this  venerable  temple,  which  for 
forty  years  rung  with  the  glowing  eloquence  of  his 
lips,  and  is  now  draped  in  mourning  because  those 
lips  are  sealed  in  death  ;  in  the  presence  of  his  mortal 
remains,  his  coffin  and  his  open  grave ;  with  our  sym- 
pathies tenderly  gathering  around  his  dying  bed  and 
bereaved  household,  we  would  not,  if  we  could,  sub- 
ject such  a  character  and  life  to  a  cold,  philosophical 
analysis,  and  suffer  these  sacred  and  salutary  tears  to 
dissolve  in  the  dry  atmosphere  of  the  critical  reason. 
On  another  occasion,  at  a  later  day,  when  these  seats 
are  filled  with  his  now  absent  kindred  and  friends,  we 
trust  that  justice  will  be  done  to  his  greatness  and 
goodness  in  a  fitting  memorial.  This  occasion  asks 
us  only  for  the  offering  of  love — to  catch  the  streams 
now  gushing  from  our  broken  hearts,  and  crystalize 
them  in  simple  and  appropriate  words. 


17 


Let  us,  then,  as  pastor  and  people,  as  kindred  and 
friends,  unite  our  hearts  in  wreathing  one  garland  of 
affection  to  lay  upon  this  sacred  casket. 

It  was  my  lot  to  know  him  only  as  a  wreck  of  his 
former  self.  Already  was  it  stranded  on  the  beach, 
when,  a  little  more  than  two  years  ago,  I  entered 
into  his  pastoral  labors;  and  daily  have  I  watched, 
with  mingled  feelings  of  pity  and  of  wonder,  the 
yielding  wreck,  as  piece  after  piece  it  gave  way  before 
the  surging  billows  of  disease  and  suffering,  until  the 
tedious  tide  as  slowly  rose  around  it  and  bore  it  away 
to  the  deep,  deep  sea.  True  manhood  is  lovely  and  ' 
sublime  in  its  ruins,  and  while  the  grandeur  challenged 
my  loftiest  admiration,  I  found  my  heart's  warmest 
affections  entwining  around  him,  like  the  clinging  ivy 
that  covers  the  walls  or  pillar  of  some  ruined 
temple. 

I  may  be  pardoned  for  saying  that  I  have  sought 
his  companionship  with  something  of  the  interest  and 
enthusiasm  of  the  connoisseurs  of  art,  who  cross  the 
seas  to  visit  the  splendid  ruins  of  ancient  cities,  and 
who  return  to  gaze  coldly  upon  the  most  finished 
architecture  of  modern  times.  It  is  amid  these  broken 
pillars  and  shattered  walls,  that  humanity  exhibits  its 
highest  dignity,  and  religion  achieves  its  sublimest 
triumphs.  To  recur  to  his  own  figure,  his  setting 
sun,  with  its  gorgeous  confusion  of  clouds,  has  im- 
pressed me  more  than  the  clear,  burnished  azure  of 
his  noonday  could  have  done. 

Dear  brethren  and  friends,  who  saw  him  in  the 
vigor  and  strength  of  manhood,  and  who  have  looked 
back  regretfully  upon  the  brilliant  past ;  viewed  from 
the  battlements  of  heaven,  these  were  his  "  palmy 
days,"  the  days  of  his  most  heroic  conflicts  and  most 
2 


i8 


extended  victories.  He,  that  vvith  the  weapons  of 
grace,  and  with  an  almost  superhuman  fortitude,  tamed 
and  ruled  his  spirit  in  these  latter  days  of  warfare, 
was  better  on  heaven's  roll  of  honor  than  he  that  in 
his  manly  prime  had  taken  cities ;  and  to-day  these 
spoils  of  victory  are  hanging  upon  the  walls  of  heaven, 
the  noblest  trophies  of  that  grand  old  warrior,  who 
has  fought  his  last  battle,  conquered  his  last  enemy, 
and  sleeps  so  peacefully  his  last  sleep. 

Without  attempting  to  estimate  my  indebtedness 
to  his  stores  of  wisdom,  accumulated  by  a  diversified 
experience  and  almost  infinite  research,  and  which, 
with  unrestricted  freedom,  I  was  permitted  to  pluck 
like  mellow  fruits  in  all  their  autumnal  ripeness,  let 
me  say  that  he  has  aided  and  counselled  me  with  the 
tender  interest  of  a  father,  and  drawn  me  to  him  with 
a  filial  reverence  and  affection.  It  was  my  happiness 
to  be  his  companion  when  he  took  his  last  daily  drive 
through  the  charming  suburbs  of  our  city.  The  sight 
of  the  still  waters  and  the  bright  verdure  reminded 
him  of  the 

"  Sweet  fields  beyond  the  swelling  flood, 
All  dressed  in  living  green." 

It  was  during  these  frequent  rides  that  he  was 
wont  to  unbosom  himself,  and  to  astonish  me  with 
the  extent  and  accuracy  of  his  knowledge,  and  with 
the  depth  and  overflowing  fullness  of  his  love  to  his 
church — the  cherished  idol  of  his  heart.  I  shall 
never  forget  his  earnest  and  impassioned  manner — 
his  deep,  tender  emotion — when,  with  his  hand  upon 
his  heart,  he  broke  forth  in  this  emphatic  utterance  : 
"  G'wc  yo?t)'sclf  \.o  your  church.  Be  identified  with  it, 
as   with  your  family.     For   her  I  have  given  myself 


19 


and  all  that  I  have — my  time  and  talents  and  sub- 
stance and  strength.  For  her  I  have  lived  and  toiled, 
and  prayed  and  suffered,  and  for  her  I  would  willingly 
lay  down  my  life."  Is  it  strange,  I  reflected,  that 
such  a  minister  should  be  loved  by  his  people  with  a 
fervent,  undying  affection  ?  How  could  any  succes- 
sor, however  worthy,  ask  for  his  place  in  the  hearts 
of  the  fathers  and  mothers,  for  whose  temporal  and 
spiritual  welfare  he  has  sacrificed  all  that  God  had 
given  him  to  lay  upon  the  altar. 

As  I  place  upon  my  shelf  that  sacred  volume,  the 
Septuagint  Scriptures,  which  he  has  left  me  as  a 
"  dying  token  of  everlasting  love,"  (the  last  words  he 
ever  wrote  with  his  trembling  hand,)  let  me  do  it 
with  this  hearty  resolve :  That  his  everlasting  love 
shall  be  kept  ever  green  in  the  hearts  of  his  people — 
that  no  flower  of  affection  shall  ever,  through  negli- 
gence or  indifference,  lose  its  freshness  and  its  fra- 
grance. 

I  cannot  be  sufficiently  grateful  to  a  kind  Provi- 
dence that  I  was  permitted  to  comfort  him  during  the 
last  hour  of  his  life ;  to  read  to  him  those  favorite 
hymns  which  so  fully  express  the  believer's  triumph- 
ant faith  and  hope.  His  utterance  was  almost  gone, 
and  he  could  answer  our  ru^-stions  only  in  fragment- 
ary words.  When  asked  which  aspect  of  Heaven 
had  been  most  prominent  in  his  Christian  experience: 
Baxter's  Saint's  Everlasting  Rest,  Howe's  Blessed- 
ness of  the  Righteous,  or  Owen's  Personal  Glory  and 
Fellowship  of  Christ  ?  He  replied  :  "  If  I  thought 
I  was  near  my  end,  I  would  like  to  read  all  three." 
For  well  he  knew  that  to  rest  from  sin,  suffering  and 
toil,  to  "  behold  God's  face  in  righteousness  and 
awake  in  His  perfect  likeness,"  are   both    essential  to 


20 


qualify  one  for  the  personal  manifestations  and  com- 
munion of  Christ — to  see  Him  as  He  is,  and  to  be 
led  by  His  own  hand  to  the  "  Fountain  of  Living 
Waters." 

Seeing  that  his  end  was  approaching,  we  asked  him 
what  farewell  message  he  would  leave  to  the  people 
to  whom  he  had  so  long  ministered,  and  who  would 
so  affectionately  cherish  his  memory.  A  sudden 
change  came  over  his  countenance,  an  expression  of 
intense  emotion,  as  if  his  heart  were  two  full  for  utter- 
ance ;  it  seemed  as  if  all  the  dear  faces  of  his 
congregation  came  up  before  him  ;  as  if  all  the  ten- 
der and  precious  associations  of  the  past  were  clus- 
tering around  him  ;  and  a  deep  rushing  tide  of  feeling 
was  overwhelming  his  soul.  He  called  for  water 
evidently  with  the  intention  of  clearing  his  throat, 
preparatory  to  a  clear,  full  utterance.  But  he  never 
spoke  again.  His  silence,  to  those  who  witnessed  the 
death  struggle,  was  more  eloquent  and  impressive 
than  any  spoken  words  could  have  been.  He  died, 
dear  friends,  with  his  church  upon  his  heart  and 
tongue.  His  last  thoughts  were  of  the  people  of  his 
love.  The  last  throb  of  his  great,  generous,  loving 
heart,  was  for  you.  His  last  dying  effort  was  to  speak 
to  you.  But  had  he  spoken,  what  more  could  he 
have  said  than  he  has  been  saying  to  you  for  nearly 
forty  years  ?  Let  his  faithful,  earnest  ministrations 
from  this  pulpit,  which  linger  in  your  memory;  let 
his  words  of  pastoral  love  and  sympathy,  which  fell 
like  heavenly  benedictions  around  your  afflicted  fire- 
sides ;  let  those  family  prayers,  which  no  pen  can  de- 
scribe, and  no  memory  ever  forget,  and  which  seemed 
like  divine  inspirations ;  let  his  noble  example  of 
patient  and   heroic   suffering — let  these  be  his  dying 


21 


message.  Let  them  all  be  embalmed  in  your  hearts. 
Let  them  become  the  inspiration  of  your  fidelity  and 
zeal.  Let  them  be  transmitted  as  a  precious  legacy 
to  your  children,  and  by  the  blessing  of  God,  you 
shall  see  this  beloved  and  cherished  Zion  "  arise  and 
shine  and  put  on  her  beautiful  garments,"  the  glory 
of  her  former  prosperity  "  having  risen  upon  her." 

"  Well  done,  good  and  faithful  servant,  enter  thou 
into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord."  Thou  hast  "  fought  a 
good  fight,  and  finished  thy  course,  and  kept  the 
faith,"  and  "  received  thy  crown  of  life."  May  thy 
mantle  of  fidelity  and  zeal  fall  upon  all  the  surviving 
officers  and  members  of  the  church  which  thou  hast 
left  to  our  care  and  love.  "  If  we  forget  thee.  Oh, 
Jerusalem,  may  our  right  hand  forget  her  cunning." 

The  Rev.  J.  L.  Girardeau  followed  in  a  brief  but 
eloquent  eulogy.  Paying  only  a  passing  tribute  to 
the  literary  labors  of  the  deceased  in  behalf  of  the 
cause  of  religion,  he  spoke  of  his  great  abilities  as  a 
pulpit  orator,  his  unswerving  devotion  to  the  discharge 
of  his  duties,  his  undying  love  for  the  congregation 
in  whose  behalf  he  had  spent  his  life,  and  his  un- 
bounded faith  in  the  Great  Redeemer  whom  he  had 
preached  for  so  many  years. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  services  the  remains  were 
borne  to  the  cemetery  adjoining  the  church,  and  con- 
signed to  the  last  resting  place  in  the  family  burying 
ground.  The  very  large  crowd  of  mourners  in  at- 
tendance, embracing  people  of  every  religious 
denomination  and  of  every  station  in  life,  was  an  evi- 
dence of  the  general  esteem  in  which  the  venerable 
minister  was  held,  and  the  sentiment  of  profound  sor- 
row that  prevailed  at  his  death. 


22 


^Extracts  from  a  Sermon  of  Re-v.  G.  R.  Brackett,  preached  Sunday  morning, 
August  Z^th^  1873,  the  first  Sabbath  after  the  death  of  the  Re-v.  Thomas 
Smyth,  D.  £).] 

Text  from  Psalm  Ii6-'i7 — "  Precious  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord  is  the 
death  of  his  saints." 

These  words  form  a  part  of  one  of  the  Psalms  of 
thanksgiving  and  praise.  We  have  selected  this 
sacred  song  to  be  read  on  this  occasion,  because  it 
seemed  to  us  more  appropriate  than  the  mournful  and 
dirge-like  meditations  of  Job  upon  the  sorrows  of  life, 
the  dismal  gloom  of  death,  and  the  corruption  of  the 
grave. 

While  these  visible  symbols  of  mourning  are  but  a 
feeble  type  of  the  drapery  of  sorrow  that  overhangs 
our  heavy  hearts,  yet  we  all  feel  that,  in  the  contem- 
plation of  the  long  and  useful  life  of  your  Honorary 
Pastor,  and  the  happy  release  from  infirmities  and  suf- 
ferings that  were  beginning  to  press  upon  him  like  an 
intolerable  burden,  we  have  more  occasion  to-day  for 
joy  than  for  sorrow. 

Let  us  then  take  down  the  harp  from  the  weeping 
willows,  and,  attuned  by  a  divine  inspiration,  rehearse 
this  psalm  of  joyful  praise.  How  much  of  this  in- 
spired song  might  be  set  to  the  music  of  Heaven.  I 
can  almost  hear  his  familiar  voice  taking  up  our  earth- 
ly strain  in  the  "  Courts  of  the  Lord's  house  above." 
"  Return  unto  thy  rest,  O  my  soul,  for  the  Lord  hath 
dealt  bountifully  with  thee.  For  Thou  hast  deliver- 
ed my  soul  from  death,  mine  eyes  from  tears,  and  my 
feet  from  falling.  Oh,  Lord,  truly  I  am  thy  servant ; 
Thou  hast  loosed  my  hands.  Gracious  is  the  Lord 
and  righteous;  yea,  our  God  is  merciful.  What  shall 
I  render  unto  the   Lord  for  all   His  benefits  toward 

ry*  fi"^'  '1^  -t-  ^  ^  'K  'P 


23 


As  no  one  soul  could  in  this  imperfect,  sinful  state, 
illustrate  in  full,  harmonious  symmetry  the  Christian 
graces  and  the  fruits  of  the  spirit,  may  we  not  con- 
clude that  each  saint  has  a  peculiar  mission  in  this 
respect,  to  exemplify  some  one  aspect  of  grace,  such 
as  he  is  fitted  to  do  by  his  peculiar  temperament  and 
education.  Some  are  called  to  manifest  an  active, 
others  a  passive  virtue ;  others,  again,  are  summoned 
to  marshal  their  giant  and  disciplined  powers  to  fight 
the  battles  of  truth  and  righteousness,  until  their 
youthful  energy  and  manly  vigor  is  exhausted  in  the 
conflict ;  and  then  the  illustrious  and  successful  war- 
rior, honorably  discharged  from  public  service,  is 
called  to  exemplify  the  more  heroic  virtues  of  humili- 
ty and  meekness,  patience  and  submission,  in  the  soli- 
tary chamber  of  suffering  and  confinement. 

Oh,  what  are  all  the  "  fightings  without "  to  these 
"  fightings  within,"  these  hand  to  hand  struggles  with 
indwelling  sin  and  a  tempting  devil,  cut  off  from  all 
that  encouragement  and  stimulus  which  our  weak 
human  natures  naturally  crave  from  the  sympathy 
and  approbation  of  our  fellow  men.  Let  him  who 
imagines  himself  superior  to  the  incentives  of  an  hon- 
orable ambition,  and  who  scorns  the  merited  applause 
of  an  admiring  and  approving  public,  take  heed  lest 
he  fall,  when  God  shall  suddenly  leave  him  to  strug- 
gle alone,  with  no  other  spectator  than  the  invisible 
God,  and  the  unseen  cloud  of  witnesses  that  surround 
His  throne. 

That  such  a  man  as  your  late  venerated  Pastor, 
with  such  capacities  and  powers,  with  such  providen- 
tial means  and  opportunities,  with  the  inspiration  of  a 
boundless  ambition,  which,  when  rightly  directed,  as 
his  was,  bespeaks  the  grandeur  and   immortality  of 


24 


the  human  soul — that  such  a  man,  so  royally  en- 
dowed, so  providentially  favored,  and  fired  by  almost 
superhuman  aspirations,  should,  like  a  little  child, 
humbly  and  patiently  submit  to  the  Divine  will,  when 
clearly  and  unequivocally  expressed  in  His  providen- 
tial dealings — is  to  us  a  miracle  of  grace.  It  is  the 
blight  falling  upon  the  ripened  harvest — just  as  the 
husbandman  is  putting  in  the  sickle  ;  the  giant  arm  of 
the  athlete  is  palsied  in  the  midst  of  the  great  amphi- 
theatre— just  when  fully  disciplined  for  the  conflict,  it 
is  raised  in  the  cause  of  truth  ;  the  great  chieftain  is 
smitten  on  the  field  of  battle,  just  when  his  batteries 
are  erected,  his  armory  is  filled  with  burnished  and 
sharpened  weapons,  and  the  trumpet  has  sounded  the 
call  to  arms.  We  say,  any  man  with  such  a  nature, 
under  such  circumstances,  without  Divine  grace,  must 
have  been  driven  to  madness  or  suicide,  or  lived  a  life 
of  moping  melancholy,  the  victim  of  despair  and  mis- 
anthropy. 

Say  not  that  such  a  man  should  have  died  in  his 
prime.  What  he  loses  of  human  praise,  he  gains  in 
the  applause  of  heaven.  He  did  not  live  too  long. 
Though  in  the  view  of  earth,  the  volume  of  his  life 
would  have  been  more  renowned  if  closed  and  ended 
earlier,  yet  the  appendix  of  suffering  and  affliction  is 
that  part  into  which  the  angels  of  Heaven  have  most 
desired  to  look,  as  illustrating  the  power  and  support 
of  sanctifying  grace. 

Precious  fn  the  sight  of  God  is  the  death  of  such  a 
saint.  Every  victory  over  the  world,  the  flesh  and 
Satan,  was  adding  to  the  lustre  of  his  crown  of  glory. 
Every  triumph  over  pain  and  suffering  was  illustrat- 
ing the  glory  of  purifying  grace.  Every  form  of  trial 
and  temptation  is  ordered  in  the  life  of  every  saint, 


25 


the  time  and  circumstances  of  his  death,  and  the  grim 
monster  may  lay  his  hand  upon  our  frail  bodies,  but 
the  soul  will  cling  to  its  falling  walls  until  the  gracious 
purpose  of  a  covenant  God  is  accomplished. 


\^Extracts  from  a  Sermon^  Preached  by   Re-v.   D.  L.  Buttolph^  in  Marietta, 
Ga.^  August  list,  1873.] 

Text — Numbers,  23  :  10.  "  Let  me  die  the  death  of  the  righteous,  and 
let  my  last  end  be  like  his." 

My  brethren,  the  sorrowful  tidings  have  recently 
reached  us  that  a  great  and  good  man  in  our  Israel 
has  fallen.  I  refer  to  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Thomas  Smyth,  of  Charleston,  S.  C. 

I  know  of  no  man  whose  death  would  have  pro- 
duced a  more  profound  impression  upon  our  whole 
Church  than  his  has  done.  It  is  true  that  for  some 
years  past  he  has  been  withdrawn  in  a  measure,  by 
sickness,  from  that  large  space  which  he  so  long  and 
ably  occupied  ;  but,  like  a  soldier,  tried  and  true,  he 
has  gallantly  buckled  on  his  armor  and  sounded  forth 
clear  and  strong,  the  note  of  alarm,  when  any  danger 
threatened  the  interest  of  the  Church  he  so  much 
loved. 

Like  a  faithful  sentinel  upon  the  watch-tov/er,  he 
has  kept  his  eye  upon  the  militant  hosts  and  showed 
its  leaders,  where  and  how  to  strike,  when  his  par- 
alyzed arm  could  not  wield  the  weapon.  His  courage, 
his  fidelity  to  duty,  his  unfaltering  zeal,  his  untiring 
industry,  during  these  last  years  of  physical  weak- 
ness and  suffering,  are  not  less  grand  to  my  mind 
than  his  best  and  most  successful  efforts  put  forth  in 
his  palmiest  days.     He  was  like  a  noble  tree,  which 


26 


produces  most  luscious  fruit  at  its  top,  when  the  trunk 
below  and  the  branches  above  were  decaying.  Those 
of  you  whose  memory  runs  back  a  score  of  years, 
know  well  how  high  he  stood  in  the  respect  and 
affection  of  our  entire  Church,  and  how  indefatigably 
he  labored,  both  by  speech  and  pen,  to  extend  the 
kingdom  of  our  blessed  Lord.  In  this  respect  he 
had  no  peer.  His  labors  abounded  in  every  channel 
through  which  he  could  reach  the  ear  and  hearts  of 
his  fellow  men. 

He  was  the  Pastor  for  forty  years  of  a  large  and 
important  Church  in  the  City  of  Charleston,  S.  C, 
which  was  the  mother  to  at  least  three  Churches 
that  colonized,  at  different  times,  from  her  commu- 
nion. As  a  preacher,  for  depth  and  variety  of  learning, 
for  plainness  and  force  of  presentation  and  originality 
of  thought,  for  purity  and  oft-times  eloquence  of  style 
and  expression,  he  had  but  few,  if  any  equal.  As 
a  pastor,  in  his  love  for  his  flock,  in  his  zeal  for 
the  instruction  of  his  people  in  divine  truth,  in  his 
deep  sympathy  for  them  in  all  their  varied  and 
changing  experiences,  he  had  no  superior.  The 
humblest  member  of  his  Church  and  congregation 
found  in  him  a  friend,  kind,  generous  and  sympathetic . 
The  young  were  not  overlooked,  but  shared  largely 
in  his  ministrations.  His  power  of  interesting  this 
class  was  remarkable,  while  at  the  same  time  he 
never  lowered  himself  or  belittled  the  ever  glorious 
gospel  in  his  addresses  to  the  youth  of  his  charge. 

His  piety  was  deep,  earnest  and  cheerful.  Reli- 
gion, as  exemplified  in  him,  wore  no  chilling,  frown- 
ing aspect,  but  appeared  smiling  and  beautiful,  as  a 
child  of  heaven.  By  a.  word  dropped  by  the  wayside 
in  the  ear  of  the  careless,  or  by  a  book  put  into  the 


27 


hands  of  the  impenitent,  he  often  aroused  the  thought- 
less and  unconcerned  to  give  serious  attention  to  the 
interests  of  their  immortal  souls.  In  all  ways,  and  by 
all  methods,  he  sought  to  do  good,  and  God  has 
abundantly  blessed  his  labors.  The  crown  of  life 
which  he  has  received,  and  which  he  has  laid,  in  lov- 
ing homage,  at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  is  refulgent  with  im- 
mortal stars,  saved  by  his  instrumentality.  O,  the 
joy,  the  rapture,  with  which  he  has  met  many  in 
heaven  before  him,  who,  on  earth,  acknowledged  him 
as  their  spiritual  father  !  Can  any  meeting  of  friends 
here  compare  with  that  meeting  above,  where  are  in- 
volved such  precious  and  hallowed  associations  ! 
In  the  city,  and  especially  the  Church  in  which  he 
passed  his  whole  ministerial  life,  he  labored  with  a 
zeal  and  devotion  and  diligence  which  consumed  his 
physical  strength,  and  when  that  was  well  nigh  gone, 
he  still  labored  on,  as  but  few  in  robust  health  ever 
labored. 

While  engaged  in  the  active  duties  of  the  Ministry 
in  a  large  and  influential  Church,  which  required  his 
best  efforts,  he  yet  found  time,  without  abating  any  of 
the  duties  he  owed  to  his  charge,  to  write  and  publish 
volume  after  volume  of  religious  matter  which  em- 
braced almost  every  department  of  Christian  doc- 
trine. I  doubt  whether  there  was  a  man  living  better 
read  in  the  various  departments  of  Theologic  lore  than 
Dr.  Smyth.  He  possessed  in  former  years  the  best  pri- 
vate Theo.logical  Library  in  this  country,  and  it  was  for 
use  and  not  for  mere  show.  He  was  a  most  indefati- 
gable student,  extending,  usually,  his  studies  far  into 
the  night.  He  was  one  of  the  most  large-hearted, 
warm-hearted,  generous  men  I  ever  knew. 

And  here  I  must  pay  him  a  heart  tribute,  which  I 


28 


would  be  most  ungrateful  to  withhold,  for  I  owe  him 
more  than  my  poor  tongue  can  tell.  My  acquaint- 
ance with  Dr.  Smyth  runs  back  twenty-seven  years. 
I  landed  in  Charleston  in  the  summer  of  1846,  with- 
out a  single  acquaintance  or  friend.  A  stranger  in  a 
strange  city,  he  took  me  by  the  hand  and  gave  me 
his  large  confidence  in  such  a  manner  as  immediately 
won  my  heart's  love.  His  house  was  open  to  me  at  all 
times,  his  valuable  library  was  at  my  service,  and, 
what  I  prized  more  than  all,  his  friendship  was  be- 
stowed upon  me  in  no  stinted  measure.  It  was 
his  faithful  presentation  of  the  truth,  as  it  lay  in 
the  line  of  my  duty,  which  led  me  to  consecrate 
my  life  to  the  gospel  ministry,  and  it  was  his 
Church  which  generously  supported  me  during  the 
years  of  my  preparation  for  this  office. 

After  leaving  the  Seminary  at  Columbia,  S.  C,  I 
was  associated  with  him  for  two  years,  at  the  call 
of  his  Church,  as  Assistant  Minister.  During  these 
two  years,  never  was  there  a  word  or  act  from  him 
which  was  not  kind  and  generous.  I  loved  him,  and 
I  know  that  that  love  was  reciprocated  by  him.  My 
respect  rose  higher,  and  my  attachment  even  stronger, 
the  more  I  saw  of  him.  He  was  as  charitable  in 
judgment  as  he  was  wise  in  counsel.  To  young 
ministers,  inexperienced  in  their  great  work,  he  was 
most  helpful  and  encouraging.  He  was  certainly  so 
to  me. 

In  his  death,  I  feel  that  I  have  lost  a  friend,  loving 
and  true.  Did  I  say  lost  a  friend  ?  No,  not  lost.  A 
father,  a  friend  has  been  translated  to  the  skies,  and 
I  trust,  through  God's  grace  given  unto  me,  I  shall 
meet  him  in  heaven,  where  the  ties,  now  broken  by 
death,  will  be  knit  together,  never  more  to  be  separated. 


29 


I  learn  that  his  death  was  a  glorious  consumma- 
tion of  his  laborious  and  useful  life.  With  the  Church, 
to  which  he  had  given  the  dew  of  his  youth  and  the 
strength  of  his  manhood,  in  his  last  thoughts,  and 
upon  his  heart,  his  spirit  ascended  to  God  and  joined 
the  Church  triumphant  in  heaven. 

In  view  of  such  a  departure  I  would  say  fervently, 
from  the  deepest  depths  of  my  soul,  "  Let  me  die  the 
death  of  the  righteous,  and  let  my  last  end  be  like  his." 

I  could  not  do  less,  my  brethren,  on  this  first  Sab- 
bath after  the  tidings  of  the  death  of  this  eminent  man 
of  God  have  reached  us,  than  to  weave  this  humble 
chaplet,  and  lay  it  as  a  willing  offering  upon  his  dis- 
tant and  honored  tomb. 


["  Southern       Christian      Adiiocate,"      {^Methodist)      of      Macon,     GeorgiOy 
August   z-jth,  1873.] 

DEATH  OF   A    DISTINGUISHED  PRESBYTE- 
RIAN DIVINE. 

Rev.  Thomas  Smyth,  D.  D.,  died  in  Charleston,  S. 
C,  on  the  20th  of  August.  Dr.  Smyth  was  born  in 
Belfast,  Ireland,  in  1808.  He  emigrated  to  America  in 
1830,  and  during  the  following  year,  settled  in 
Charleston,  as  Pastor  of  the  Second  Presbyterian 
Church,  of  that  city,  which,  from  his  long  pastorate, 
has  for  many  years  been  known  as  "  Dr.  Smyth's 
Church."  The  deceased  held  a  conspicuous  place 
among  the  preachers  and  authors  of  his  denomina- 
tion ;  and  his  death  will  be  deeply  deplored,  as  a  loss, 
not  only  to  the  body  of  Christians  with  whom  he 
was  immediately  affiliated,  but  to  evangelical  Chris- 
tianity at  large.  We  chronicle  his  death  with  sincere 
sorrow. 


30 


["  Charleston  Daily  Neivs  and  Courier^"  August  z^tA,  1873.] 

A  TRIBUTE  TO  MY  DEPARTED  PASTOR. 

THE  REV.  THOMAS  SMYTH,  D.  D. 

Pastor  revered,  thy  well-loved  voice 

Shall  greet  us  now  no  more  ; 
We  will  list  in  vain  for  thy  tottering  step, 

Upon  our  Temple  floor. 

We  will  pause  as  though  we  saw  thee  still 

Ascend  the  pulpit  stair, 
And  almost  think  we  catch  the  words 

We  never  more  shall  hear. 

We  shall  miss  thee,  when  Baptism's  seal 

Of  water  pure  and  free 
Is  placed  upon  our  little  ones, 

Ah  !  then  we  will  miss  thee. 

We'll  miss  thee  at  the  sacred  feast, 

We'll  miss  those  words  of  love 
Which  seemed  as  though  some  angel  brought 

A  message  from  above. 

We'll  miss  those  copious,  fervent  prayers, 

Within  our  household  band, 
Which  seemed  to  draw  a   blessing  down 

From  yonder  heavenly  land. 

We'll  miss  thee  in  affliction's  hour. 

When  storm-clouds  spread  around  ; 
We'll  miss  the  one  who  pointed  us — 

Where  comfort  could   be  found.  • 

We  cannot  cease  to  miss  thee. 

Though  years  may  endless  run, 
We  were  ivitli  thee  like  garden  plants — 

Rejoicing  in  the  sun. 

But  finished  is  thy  work  of  love, 

The  parting  message  given; 
The  reaper,  Death,  has  ope'd  the  gate 

Through  which  thou  enter'd  Heaven. 

And  then,  what  transports  filled  thy  soul. 

As  from  that  glorious  One 
The  sentence  came,  in  accent  loud, 

"  Ser-vant  of  God  ivcll  done."  E.    C.  K. 

Charleston,  S.  C,  Augustas,  1873. 


31 


^^' SoutAern   Presbyterian^"  Columbia^  S.   C,  August  I'ith^  1873.] 

DEATH  OF  THE  REV.  THOMAS  SMYTH,  D.  D. 

"  There  is  a  prince  and  a  great  man  fallen  this  day 
in  Israel." 

The  announcement  of  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Smyth,  which  occurred  on  the  20th  inst.,  while  it  will 
not  create  surprise  (since  it  was  generally  known  that 
his  health  has  been  such  for  many  years  past,  and 
especially  for  the  last  few  months,  as  to  excite 
the  constant  apprehension  of  his  friends)  will  be  re- 
ceived throughout  our  Church  with  profound  sorrow. 
A  great  and  a  good  man,  his  loss  will  be  widely  felt ; 
the  sense  of  which  will  be  mitigated  only  by  the  re- 
flection that,  being  the  victim  of  incurable  disease, 
the  days  of  his  active  usefulness  were  past,  and  life 
had  become  an  almost  insupportable  burden,  which 
he  longed  inexpressibly  to  lay  down. 
•  [Then  followed,  in  full,  the  extracts  from  the 
Charleston  papers.] 


["  Central  Presbyterian  "  Richmond.  Va.^  August  T.']th^  1^73-] 

DEATH  OF  REV.  THOMAS  SMYTH,  D.  D. 

The  Charleston  (South  Carolina)  News  and  Cotiricr, 
of  the  23d  instant,  contains  an  account  of  the  funeral 
services  at  the  burial  of  this  venerable  Minister  of 
Christ  on  last  Friday.  We  had  not  before  heard  of 
his  death,  though  aware  that  it  was  daily  expected. 
Long  wasted  away  by  disease,  he  has  now  rested  from 
his  labors  and  his  sufferings.  A  suitable  notice  of 
this  departed  brother,  one  of  the  most  learned  men 
in  the  Southern  Church,  will  appear  next  week. 


j- 


["  christian  Ohscr-ver^"  Louis-ville^  ^y-t  -^"^"s'  -7/^,  1873.] 

DEATH  OF  THE  REV.  DR.  SMYTH. 

As  we  go  to  press,  a  rumor  reaches  us  that  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Smyth,  of  Charleston,  S.  C,  is  dead.  We 
have  heard  none  of  the  particulars,  nor  even  the  date 
of  his  death.  We  hope  the  rumor  may  be  a  mistake. 
In  Dr.  Smyth  our  Church  would  lose  a  most  learned 
divine,  whom  she  has  learned  to  revere  for  his  ear- 
nest services,  his  sincere  piety,  and  his  stores  of 
knowledge. 


^Florence   "Pioneer"  S.  C,  August  zzJ,  1873.] 

DEATH  OF  REV.  THOMAS  SMYTH,  D.   D. 

All  over  this  State  and  in  distant  States,  the  cap- 
tion of  this  article  will  occasion  unfeigned  regret. 
Dr.  Smyth  died  at  his  home  in  Charleston  on  Wednes- 
day. We  cannot,  for  want  of  space,  give  anything 
but  a  brief  outline  of  his  life.  He  was  born  in  Bel- 
fast, Ireland,  in  1808,  and  educated  at  that  place.  He 
began  his  studies  for  the  ministry  in  London,  removed 
to  this  country  in  1831,  and  completed  his  studies 
with  distinguished  honor  at  Princeton  College.  In 
1832,  he  was  unanimously  recommended  by  the 
Faculty  of  Princeton  to  the  2d  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Charleston,  of  which  he  was  Pastor  nearly  a  half 
century.  Soon  after  arriving  in  Charleston,  he  mar- 
ried the  daughter  of  James  Adger.  He  was  the 
author  of  over  thirty  theological  works,  in  which  he 
will  live  and  preach  to  many  generations.  In  the 
prime  of  life  he  was  stricken  with  paralysis,  but  his 
intellectual  vigor  was  never  impaired. 


33 


[C/n/onj  S.  C,  "  Times"  August  27M,  1 87 3.] 

Rev.  Thomas  Smyth,  D.  D.,  an  aged,  eloquent  and 
dearly  loved  Presbyterian  Minister,  died  in  Charleston 
last  week. 


\_fVilmington,  N.  C,  "  Star,"  August  23^,  1873.] 

From  the  Charleston  JVc^os  and  Courier,  we  learn  of 
the  death,  on  Wednesday,  of  Rev.  Thomas  Smyth, 
D.  D.  He  was  Pastor  until  his  health  failed,  of  the 
Second  Presbyterian  Church,  and  besides  was  the 
author  of  several  theological  works.  Dr.  S.  was  a 
man  of  great  learning. 


[^'fVinnsboro' Neivs,^' August  zdth^  1873.] 

DEATH  OF  REV.  THOMAS  SMYTH,  D.  D. 

From  the  Nezvs  and  Courier  we  learn  of  the  death 
of  Rev.  Dr.  Smyth,  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He 
was  well  known  throughout  the  whole  country,  and 
received  the  degree  of  D.  D.  from  Princeton  College, 
in  the  year  1843.  He  also  acquired  a  reputation  as  a 
theological  writer.  His  health  was  feeble  for  many 
years,  but  his  intellect  was  unimpaired  to  the  last. 
His  loss  will  be  severely  felt. 


^Aiken,  S.   C,  "Tribune,"  August  zjtA,  1873.] 

Rev.  Thomas  Smyth,  D.  D.,  who,  for  the  past  fifty 
years,  has  acceptably  filled  the  pulpit  of  the  Second 
Presbyterian  Church,  of  Charleston,  died  in  that  city 
on  Wednesday. 
3 


34 


[Camden  "Journa!,"   August  28^,1873.] 

A  VETERAN  OF  THE  CROSS  GONE. 

Rev.  Thomas  Smyth,  D.  D.,  the  revered  and  distin- 
guished Pastor  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Charleston,  for  more  than  forty  years,  died  on  the 
20th  inst.,  in  the  66th  year  of  his  age. 


["  Associate    Reform    Presbyterian^"     Due    fVest^   Abbc-vilk^    S.    C,    August 
27M,  1873.] 

DEATH  OF  REV.  THOMAS  SMYTH,  D.  D. 

For  many  years  our  readers  have  known  Dr.  Smyth, 
of  Charleston.  About  thirty  years  ago  he  and  Dr. 
Hemphill  had  a  long  and  earnest,  though,  upon  the 
whole,  we  believe,  a  pleasant  and  good  humored  con- 
troversy, in  the  Charleston  Observer,  about  Psalmody. 
This  served  to  bring  them  both  prominently  before 
our  people,  and  both  have  been  favorably  known  to 
them  ever  since — the  one  as  a  staunch  advocate  of  a 
Scripture,  or  Scriptural  (as  the  words  are  commonly 
used,  we  do  not  see  much  difference)  Psalmody,  and 
as  one  of  the  best  newspaper  correspondents  in 
America;  the  other  as  an  able  and  learned  divine. 
As  many  of  our  readers  know,  Dr.  Smyth  was  some 
years  ago  stricken  down  with  paralysis,  and  has  been 
ever  since  in  very  feeble  health.  His  death  would 
not  have  surprised  himself  or  his  friends  at  any  time 
in  the  last  twenty  years.  For  a  number  of  years  he 
has  been  very  feeble,  and  death  came  to  his  relief  last 
week,  when  he  was  released  from  his  toils  and  his 
sufferings  and  called  up  to  his  reward. 

[Then  followed  the  notice  of  his  death,  as  pub- 
lished in  the  Charleston  Daily  Neios  and  Courier^ 


35 


lAhhe-ville,  S.  C,  "Medium,"  August  26M,  1873.] 

DEATH  OF  REV.  THOMAS  SMYTH,  D.  D. 

This  distinguished  divine  died  in  Charleston  on 
Thursday  last,  having  attained  the  age  of  sixty-five 
years.  He  was  a  man  of  large  attainments,  and  was 
the  author  of  many  valuable  theological  works. 


l_"  Earnest  Worker,'"  Richmond,  Va.,  September  ^th,  1873.] 

DEATH   OF  REV.  THOMAS  SMYTH,  D.  D. 

The  Charleston  (South  Carolina)  Ncius  and  Courier, 
of  the  23d  instant,  contains  an  account  of  the  funeral 
services  at  the  burial  of  this  venerable  Minister  of 
Christ  on  last  Friday.  Long  wasted  away  by  disease, 
he  has  now  rested  from  his  labors  and  his  sufferings. 


["  Southern  Presbyterian,''^  September  \th^   1873.] 

A  TOUCHING  INCIDENT. 

At  the  funeral  of  the  late  Rev.  Thomas  Smyth, 
D.  D.,  of  Charleston,  S.  C,  as  the  casket  containing 
the  remains  was  being  borne  into  the  Church,  an  aged 
colored  woman  stepped  from  the  crowd  of  colored 
persons  who  had  gathered  to  do  honor  to  the  memory 
of  the  deceased,  and  with  tears  streaming  from  her 
eyes,  paid  a  brief,  but  touching  tribute  to  her  old 
Pastor,  saying,  "  Go  to  Jesus,  faithful  preacher." 

After  the  grave  had  been  filled,  a  number  of  chil- 
dren from  the  Orphan  House  gathered  around  and 
covered  it  with  wreaths  of  laurels  and  white  flowers. 
The  deceased  had  often  conducted  divine  service  in 
the  Orphans'  Chapel,  and  in  his  lifetime  took  a  deep 
interest  in  all  that  concerned  the  inmates  of  the  insti- 
tution. 


36 


["  Charleston  Daily  Neivs  and  Courier^'"    No-vemher  ^th^  1873.] 

A  TRIBUTE 

IN  LOVING  REMEMBRANCE  OF  REV.  THOMAS  SMYTH,  D.  D. 


A  noble  mission  is  fulfilled, 

The  dear,  brave,  faithful  lips  are  stilled. 

The  great  heart's  dumb  ; 
The  busy  hands  find  rest  at  last, 
The  work  is  o'er,  the  conflict's  pagt. 

And  peace  is  come  ! 

II. 

Gazing  down  on  that  quiet  face, 
Did  not  your  loving  instincts  trace 

Chis'ling  divine  ? — 
The  scripture  of  a  hidden  gain  ? — 
The  mystic  aftermath  of  pain  ? — 

God's  solemn  sign. 

III. 

That  we  might  see  in  some  dim  wise, 
How  underneath  this  mortal  guise 

The  soul  grew  fair — 
The  stronger  virtues  grandly  blent, 
With  child-like  love  and  meek  content, 

In  concord  rare  ! 

IV. 

Those  white  still  lips  beneath  the  sod 
Many  a  soul  have  won  for  God  j 

And  who  may  tell 
How  many  hearts  that   patient  pen 
Has  blessed,  and    soothed,  and  cheered  again 

At  Baca's  "  Well?" 


37 


Loving  seeds  by  the  wayside  sown, 
Many  an  erring  one  has  borne 

To  Jesus  feet. 
And  in  our  homes  his  words  of  prayer 
Have  made  the  sorrow  seem  less  drear, 

The  joys  more  sweet. 

VI. 

Then,  when  the  Master's  chast'ning  hand 
Had  smitten  with  the  sore  command, 

The  brief— "  Be  still!" 
With  steadfast  faith  and  courage  high, 
The  cross  was  borne,  the  work  laid  by, 

At  Jesus'  will. 

VII. 

So  day  by  day  the  faint  feet  trod 
The  path  that  led   him  nearer  God, 

And  nearer  "  Home;" 
And  then  his  footsteps  touched  the  brim 
Of  Jordan's  waters  chill  and  dim 

With  dashing  foam. 

VIII. 

A  solemn  peace  was  on  the  face, 

The  pale  lips  smiled  with   saintly  grace, 

And  then  grew  still ; 
And  sunset's  parting  glory  shone 
On  features  white  as  graven  stone, 

And  deathly  chill. 

IX. 

The  "  faith  "  was  "  kept,"  the   "  course  "  was  run, 
The  final  vict'ry  grandly  won  ; 

And  now  the  King 
Doth  grace  that  brow,  all  seamed  with  scars, 
With  wondrous  "  crown  "  of  many  siars, 

While  anthems  ring  ! 
Charleston,  October  20,  1873. 


38 


^Extract    from    correspondent's    letter    to      "  Charleston    Daily     Neivs     and 
Courier j'^  from  S.   C.  Synod  at  Cheraiv,  November  ^th,  1873. 

An  admirable  paper  was  presented,  prepared  by 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Howe,  of  Columbia,  containing  a  beau- 
tiful and  touching  tribute  to  the  memory  of  the  late 
and  greatly  lamented  Dr.  Smyth,  who,  for  many  years, 
was  one  of  the  leading  spirits  in  all  our  Church 
Courts,  and  who,  by  his  eloquent  voice  and  laborious 
pen,  in  some  respects  did  more  for  the  cause  of  Pres- 
byterianism  than  any  other  minister  in  our  State. 


\_Paterson  (New  Jersey)  "Daily  Press"  August  27,  1873.] 

[After  copying  in  full  the  Biographical  Sketch  from 
the  Charleston  News  and  Cou7'ier.~\ 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Smyth  was  well  known  in  this  city, 
where  he  resided  while  pursuing  his  education  and 
preparing  for  Princeton,  and  afterwards  for  a  short 
time.  He  has  frequently  preached  in  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church  in  this  city,  and  always  to  large 
crowds,  as  his  eminent  fame  was  widely  recognized 
here.  His  death  will  give  sincere  sorrow  to  a  large 
number  of  friends  in  Paterson. 


REV.  THOMAS  SMYTH,  D.  D., 

Died  in  Charleston,  S.   C,  on  the   20th  of  August, 
1873,  in  the  66th  year  of  his  age. 

He  was  born  in  Belfast,  Ireland,  on  the  14th  of 
June,  1808,  of  Scotch  and  English  ancestry,  and  his 
father  having  participated  in  what  is  called  "the 
Rebellion  of  1798,"  and  sufifered  a  long  and  painful 
imprisonment  in  consequence,  he  early  imbibed  from 


39 


him  that  hatred  of  intolerance  and  injustice,  which 
made  him  an  ardent  admirer  of  liberty,  both  in  Church 
and  State. 

Like  almost  every  great  man,  he  had  a  devoted 
mother,  of  superior  talents  and  attainments,  and  ear- 
nest piety,  whose  greatest  ambition  was  to  train  her 
children  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord.  He  always  spoke 
of  her  in  terms  of  the  most  profound  reverence  and 
tender  endearment.  In  1825,  the  failure  of  his  father 
in  business  forced  upon  him  the  necessity  of  giving  up 
his  studies,  and  assisting  in  the  support  of  his  parents. 
One  night  a  friend  called  at  the  house  and  made  him 
advantageous  offers  to  go  into  his  counting-house. 
He  hesitated  before  accepting,  and  that  noble  mother 
spoke,  "Thomas,  if  you  want  to  pursue  your  studies, 
go  on,  I  will  work  myself,  if  necessary,  to  secure 
your  expenses." 

With  such  encouragement,  he  entered  upon  his 
studies  with  redoubled  energy,  reading  becoming  his 
chief  delight,  and  the  possession  of  books  his  greatest 
desire,  and  during  his  primary  course  at  the  Aca- 
demical Institute  in  Belfast,  prizes  were  awarded  to 
him  at  every  examination.  In  1827  he  entered  the 
Belfast  College,  and  in  addition  to  the  studies  regu- 
larly prescribed,  he  took  lessons  in  composition  and 
elocution  from  Sheridan  Knowles,  the  celebrated  trage- 
dian. Here  he  obtained  the  first  class  prize,  voted  to 
him  according  to  the  Scotch  plan,  unanimously  by 
the  entire  class  of  ninety  students,  besides  public 
examination  prizes,  and  many  others  for  especial 
examinations  and  essays.  During  the  senior  year 
the  religious  impressions  of  his  early  years  were 
aroused  and  deepened,  and  his  convictions  were  so 
stronsf  that  he  was  lonsf  in    distress  before  he  was 


40 


enabled  to  yield  himself  to  his  Saviour,  and  become 
a  member  of  His  visible  Church.  But  the  step  once 
taken,  it  was  for  his  life,  and  with  his  characteristic 
energy,  he  threw  his  whole  soul  into  the  work,  and 
became  an  earnest  Sabbath-school  teacher  before  he 
was  twenty-one  years  of  age. 

He  now  determined  to  carry  out  the  design  of  his 
devoted  mother,  which  she  had  cherished  from  his 
earliest  infancy,  and  entered  Highbury  College  in 
London  to  study  theology  and  prepare  himself  for  the 
ministry. 

Here  his  thirst  for  books,  to  use  his  own  words, 
"  became  rapacious,"  and  he  frequently  overspent  his 
supplies  in  procuring  them,  and  had  to  deny  himself, 
for  two  or  three  months,  in  the  dead  of  winter,  almost 
the  necessaries  of  life.  Owing  to  constant  and  unre- 
mitting study,  his  health,  always  feeble,  gave  way 
entirely,  and  he  was  compelled  to  abandon  his  inten- 
tion of  offering  himself  as  a  Missionary  to  the  Lon- 
don Missionary  Society,  and  discontinue  his  studies, 
as  he  was  thought  to  be  going  into  rapid  consumption. 

Just  at  this  time  his  parents  informed  him  of  their 
determination  to  embark  for  the  United  States,  where 
most  of  their  children  had  already  emigrated,  and 
after  anxious  and  prayerful  deliberation,  he  concluded 
to  accompany  them,  and  sailed  with  them  in  August, 
1830,  for  New  York.  His  eldest  brother  having  set- 
tled in  Paterson,  New  Jersey,  he  went  directly  to  that 
city,  where  he  at  once  connected  himself  with  the 
Presbyterian  Church  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Fisher.  He  soon  joined  the  Presbytery  of  Newark 
as  a  candidate  for  the  Gospel  Ministry,  and  entered 
the  senior  class,  at  the  regular  session  of  the  Prince- 
ton Theological  Seminary. 


41 


Still  animated  by  an  earnest  missionary  spirit,  he 
had  determined,  after  graduating,  to  visit  Florida  with 
some  of  his  fellow  students  to  preach  the  Gospel 
there,  when  a  letter  from  the  Second  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Charleston,  S.  C,  to  the  Faculty  of  Prince- 
ton Seminary,  requesting  them  to  select  a  suitable 
minister  to  supply  their  vacant  pulpit,  was  placed  in 
his  hands,  and  Drs.  Alexander  and  Miller  urged  him 
to  accept  the  invitation. 

He  arrived  in  Charleston  in  1831,  and  entered  upon 
his  labor  with  great  zeal  and  energy,  and  his  preach- 
ing was  so  acceptable  to  the  congregation,  that,  in 
April,  1832,  he  received  a  call  to  the  pastorate  of  the 
Church,  having  previously  been  invited  and  called  to 
several  other  points.  After  mature  consideration,  fear- 
ful of  his  inability  to  fill  so  arduous  and  responsible 
a  position,  on  account  of  his  feeble  health,  he  finally 
yielded  to  the  earnest  wishes  of  his  people  and  was 
installed. 

He  was  married  to  the  eldest  daughter  of  Mr. 
James  Adger,  and  after  a  happy  wedded  life  of  over 
forty  years,  she  had  the  sad  privilege  of  closing  his 
eyes, and  following  him  to  his  last  resting  place.  By 
this  union  he  had  nine  children,  six  of  whom,  three 
sons  and  three  daughters,  survive  him,  and  nine 
grand-children.  It  was  a  source  of  unspeakable  com- 
fort to  him  that  all  of  his  children  early  consecrated 
themselves  to  the  service  of  Christ,  and  became  mem- 
bers of  the  Church.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  his 
eldest  son  was  a  ruling  elder,  and  his  second  son  a 
deacon  in  his  Church.  Here,  with  the  people  of  his 
first  love,  his  only  charge,  he  spent  his  life,  giving  to 
them  for  over  forty  years,  all  the  energy  of  his  mind, 
the  power  and  influence  of  his  talents,  and  the  undy- 


42 


ing  love  of  his  inmost  heart.  While  discharging,  to 
the  entire  satisfaction  of  his  people,  his  pastoral 
duties,  he  laid  out  for  himself  a  regular  and  systema- 
tic course  of  study,  collecting  around  him,  as  his  best 
friends,  and  necessary  to  his  very  life,  all  the  books 
he  needed,  and  devoting  himself,  with  all  his  energies, 
to  the  acquisition  of  knowledge  and  learning.  By 
continually  adding  to  his  library,  it  soon  numbered 
nearly  twenty  thousand  volumes,  some  fifteen  thou- 
sand of  the  choicest  of  which  are  now  in  the  theolo- 
gical Seminary  in  Columbia,  S.  C,  and  known  as 
"  The  Smyth  Library." 

Believing  that  he  owed  a  duty  not  merely  to  the 
people  of  his  own  charge,  but  to  God's  people  and 
to  sinners  throughout  the  world,  he  entered  upon  a 
course  of  still  harder  study,  preparatory  to  publish- 
ing his  writings,  and  in  1836  launched  his  first  ven- 
ture, which  was  followed  in  rapid  succession  by  some 
thirty  volumes,  and  seventy  pamphlets.  Among  the 
most  important  we  may  name  : 

''Lectures  on  Apostolical  Succession." 

"  Presbytery,  Not  Prelacy." 

"  Ecclesiastical  Republicanism." 

"  An  Ecclesiastical  Catechism." 

"  The  Claims  of  the  Free  Church  of  Scotland." 

"Bereaved  Parents  Consoled," 

"  The  Unity  of  the  Human  Race." 

"The  Well  in  the  Valley." 

"  The  Life  and  Character  of  Calvin." 

"  Why  Do  I  Live,"  &c.,  &c.,  &c. 

Besides  a  large  number  of  published  sermons,  dis- 
courses and  orations,  which  were  delivered  on  special 
occasions. 

Many  of  these  works  have  been  republished  in  Eng- 


43 


land,  and  endorsed  as  of  the  highest  value  by  eminent 
men  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic,  and  some  of  them 
are  regarded  as  theological  classics,  without  which 
no  minister's  library  would  be  complete.  In  1843,  the 
degree  of  D.  D.  was  conferred  upon  him  by  the 
unanimous  vote  of  the  Faculty  of  Princeton  College, 
"  on  account  of  his  attainments  in  theological  learn- 
ing, and  his  labors  in  the  cause  of  truth  and 
righteousness." 

In  1853,  after  long  and  continued  labors  in  the  pre- 
paration of  his  work  on  the  "  Unity  of  the  Human 
Race,"  on  his  way  home  from  the  meeting  of  the 
General  Assembly,  he  was  stricken  down  by  paralysis 
in  the  cars,  just  as  they  were  entering  Washington, 
and  never  recovered  fully  the  use  of  his  limbs. 

Dr.  Smyth  was  eminently  an  original  man,  full 
of  energy,  of  indomitable  will  and  perseverance,  and 
gifted  with  talents  of  the  highest  range.  In  the  prime 
of  life,  before  disease  had  crippled  his  frame,  he^was 
tall  and  commanding  in  figure,  striking  in  appearance, 
possessed  of  a  sonorous  and  sweet-toned  voice,  a 
matchless  orator,  full  of  impassioned  eloquence  and 
fertile  imagination.  Crowded  audiences  listened  to 
his  sermons,  and  colleges  and  seminaries  compliment- 
ed him  by  electing  him  an  honorary  member  of  their 
various  literary  societies.  But  the  key-note  to  his 
whole  being,  that  which  ruled  and  pitched  the 
melody  of  his  entire  life,  was  earnest  love  to  Jesus, 
his  Saviour,  and  an  untiring  zeal  and  desire  to  win 
souls  for  Christ.  An  eminent  clergyman,  who  knew 
him  well  and  intimately,  remarked  that  the  most 
prominent  trait  of  his  character  was  his  simple,  child- 
like love  for  Jesus.  He  was  a  faithful,  earnest  pleader, 
and  his  Master  was  pleased  to  make  him  the  humble 


44 


instrument  of  leading  many  souls  to  the  waters  of 
life  and  beside  the  green  pastures  of  His  love.  The 
Church  under  his  ministry  was  blessed  with  frequent 
revivals,  at  one  time  over  one  hundred  joining  it  on 
profession  of  their  faith,  and  seldom  did  a  communion 
season  pass  without  some  seals  being  given  to  his 
labors  by  the  great  Head  of  the  Church. 

He  was  intensely  interested  on  the  subject  of  for- 
eign missions,  and  wrote  many  works  upon  that 
glorious  topic.  In  his  own  Church  he  labored  zeal- 
ously to  interest  all,  and  especially  the  children,  in 
the  mission  work,  and  many  now  living  will  remem- 
ber the  meetings  of  the  Juvenile  Missionary  Society, 
and  his  impassioned  and  successful  appeals  for  labor- 
ers for  the  Master's  vineyard. 

During  the  recent  war  his  whole  heart  was  with  the 
South,  and  he  prayed,  and  preached,  and  wept  for 
her,  giving  his  three  sons  to  her  service  and  his 
worldly  all  to  her  cause.  During  the  two  closing 
years  of  the  war  he  resided  with  the  family  of  his 
eldest  son,  in  the  interior  of  the  State,  where  there 
was  no  Presbyterian  Church — but  he  could  not  be 
idle.  Precious  souls,  out  of  Christ,  were  all  around 
him,  and  so  freely  he  preached  the  gospel,  alternating 
his  appointments  with  his  Methodist  brother  at  the 
different  churches  on  his  circuit,  and  rain  or  shine, 
was  always  at  his  voluntary  post  of  duty. 

Upon  his  return  to  Charleston,  after  the  war,  with 
his  resources  all  destroyed  by  its  failure,  with  body 
enfeebled  by  disease  and  suffering,  yet  with  mind  clear 
and  undimmed,  and  full  of  love  for  Christ  and  for  souls, 
he  buckled  on  his  armour  and  again  stood  in  his 
familiar  pulpit,  preaching  the  unsearchable  riches  of 
the  Gospel  until  the  fall  of  1870,  when,  being  disabled 


45 


by  another  stroke  of  paralysis,  which  affected  his 
speech,  he  resigned  his  active  pastoral  office  and  was 
unanimously  elected  honorary  pastor.  With  incred- 
ible energy  and  perseverance,  showing  an  indomitable 
will,  that  was  almost  marvellous,  he  endeavoured  to 
regain  his  speech,  and  in  spite  of  the  predictions  of  his 
physician,  and  all  who  saw  him,  by  degrees  recovered, 
until  he  could  again  preach  God's  message  to  dying 
sinners,  which  was  his  greatest  ambition.  And  even 
after,  when,  through  weakness,  he  was  unable  to 
preach,  he  was  regularly  at  his  place  in  the  pulpit, 
making  always  the  closing  prayer,  until  within  three 
or  four  weeks  of  his  death. 

All  his  life  a  great  sufferer  and  acquainted  with 
pain,  as  a  fellow  traveller  and  bosom  companion  in 
every  stage  of  the  journey,  one  of  his  most  marked  char- 
acteristics was  his  constant  and  unvarying  cheerfulness. 
A  most  wonderful  instance  of  his  faith  and  trust  in 
God,  which  was  the  source  of  all  his  joy  and  happiness, 
was  manifested  when  a  fire,  in  1870,  destroyed  his 
selected  library  of  about  three  thousand  choice 
volumes,  all  his  sermons  prepared  since  the  war, 
many  valuable  MSS.  intended  for  publication,  and  all 
his  personal  effects  and  valuables.  Rescued  himself 
only  narrowly  from  a  dreadful  death,  he  was  as  cheer- 
ful the  next  morning  when  he  surveyed  the  charred 
remains  of  his  valuable  books,  the  greatest  possible 
loss  to  him,  as  he  was  in  former  days  when  in  his 
well  appointed  library,  he  sat  surrounded  by  thou- 
sands of  choice  volumes,  every  one  of  which  was  to 
him  a  cherished  and  personal  friend. 

Far  from  being  a  burden,  life  was  full  of  joy  and 
happiness  to  him.  Always  an  ardent  admirer  of 
nature,  in  all  her  varying  moods,  he  enjoyed  intensely 


46 


communion  with  her,  and  to  the  very  last,  only  three 
days  before  his  death,  after  returning  from  his  daily 
ride  in  the  suburbs  of  the  city,  he  spoke  of  the  pleas- 
ure he  had  received,  and  the  beautiful  scenes  he  had 
witnessed.  In  the  home  circle,  he  entered  into  all 
the  joys  and  cheerfulness  of  the  family,  and  delighted 
to  draw  his  grandchildren  around  him,  and  took 
pleasure  in  sharing  their  mirth  and  merry  laughter. 
He  never  gave  way  to  despondency  about  himself, 
and  would  always  answer  the  inquiries  as  to  his  wel- 
fare with  a  bright  and  happy  smile.  His  religion  was 
a  joyous  service,  into  which  his  soul  entered  with  all 
its  energies,  and  there  were  no  repinings,  but  cheerful, 
willing  submission  to  all  his  father's  will. 

His  last  illness  was  slow  and  gradual,  and  attended 
with  much  weakness  and  pain,  yet  grace  was  given 
him  to  bear  all  with  meekness  and  patience,  and 
God's  strength  was  sufficient  for  him.  Slowly  he  de- 
scended into  the  dark  valley,  imperceptibly  almost 
to  those  around  him,  leaning  upon  his  Beloved,  and 
telling  those  who  were  with  him  that  there  was  not 
a  cloud  or  shadow  of  doubt  as  to  his  acceptance  with 
God,  and  that  Jesus  was  ever  near.  The  Church,  for 
whom  he  had  lived,  to  whom  he  had  given  his 
strength,  his  talents,  his  all,  was  still  upon  his  heart, 
when  death  drew  near,  and  his  last  dying  effort  was 
to  send  a  message  of  love  to  his  dear  people. 

His  best  epitaph  is  his  favorite  texts,  which  were 
quoted  at  his  funeral : 

"  I  have  fought  a  good  fight ;  I  have  finished  my 
course ;  I  have  kept  the  faith ;  henceforth  there  is 
laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of  life." 

"  Well  done  good  and  faithful  servant,  enter  thou 
into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord." 


47 


^^■^ Christian  Observer,"  Louis-vil/e,  Ky.,  September  3^  1873.] 

THE  FUNERAL  OF  DR.  SMYTH. 

The  statement  contained  in  our  last  was  too  true. 
This  distinguished  man  of  God  died  on  August  20. 
The  interesting  sketch  found  in  another  cokimn,  re- 
leases us  from  the  duty  of  preparing  a  biographical 
sketch.  But  a  record  remains  to  be  made  of  the  last 
sad  offices,  which  we  can  pay  to  departed  greatness. 

On  Friday,  August  23d,  the  corpse  was  borne  to 
the  Church,  of  which  he  had  been,  for  so  many  years, 
the  Pastor,  by  eight  clergymen  of  the  city.  After 
singing  the  hymn,  "  Nearer,  my  God,  to  Thee,"  and 
the  reading  of  comforting  selections  from  the  Word 
of  God,  his  co-pastor,  the  Rev.  G.  R.  Brackett,  de- 
livered, with  much  feeling,  an  appropriate  address. 
The  Rev.  J.  L.  Girardeau,  D.  D.,  followed  in  a  brief 
but  eloquent,  eulogy.  The  remains  were  then  borne 
from  the  Church  to  the  neighboring  cemetery,  and 
consigned  to  their  last  resting  place  in  the  family 
burial  ground. 

There  were  many  evidences  that  his  people  realized 
their  great  loss.  The  floor  of  the  Church  was 
crowded,  and  the  gallery  was  filled  with  colored  peo- 
ple. The  Church  was  draped.  As  the  casket,  con- 
taining the  remains,  was  being  borne  into  the  Church, 
an  aged  colored  woman  stepped  from  the  crowd  of 
colored  persons,  who  had  gathered  to  do  honor  to 
the  memory  of  the  deceased,  and,  with  tears  stream- 
ing from  her  eyes,  paid  a  brief,  but  touching  tribute 
to  her  old  pastor,  saying  :  "  Go  to  Jesus,  faithful 
preacher." 

After  the  grave  had  been  filled,  a  number  of 
children  from  the  Orphan  House,   gathered   around 


48 


and  covered  it  with  wreaths  of  laurel  and  white 
flowers.  The  deceased  had  often  conducted  divine 
service  in  the  Orphans'  Chapel,  and,  in  his  life-time 
took  a  deep  interest  in  all  that  concerned  the  inmates 
of  the  institution. 


[^''Neiv  York  Obser-ver^"  September  j^th,  1873.] 

Death  has  been  striking  down  many  of  the 
aged  standard  bearers  in  the  Church  within  the  last 
month.  We  have  recorded  within  that  period  the 
death  of  Rev.  Drs.  Schmucker,  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  Storrs  and  Todd,  of  the  Congregational,  and 
Spring,  of  the  Presbyterian,  all  eminent  ministers  of 
Christ.  After  having  served  their  generation  faith- 
fully and  long  they  have  entered  into  re.st.  Still 
another  veteran  in  the  service  of  Christ  has  gone. 
Rev.  Thomas  Smyth,  D.  D.,  of  Charleston,  S.  C,  the 
learned  and  able  author,  the  eloquent  preacher  and 
devoted  pastor,  who  for  years  has  been  struggling 
with  disease,  but  standing  at  his  post,  died  at  Charles- 
ton on  the  20th  ult.  We  have  received  a  sketch  of 
his  remarkable,  laborious,  and  useful  life,  too  late  for 
the  present  number  of  the  Observer.  We  shall  pub- 
lish it  next  week. 


["  Christian  Adiiocate"  Methodist,  Nash'vilh,  Tenn.,  September  dth^  1873.] 

DEATH  OF  THE  REV.  THOMAS  SMYTH,  D.  D. 

We  are  pained  to  record  the  death  of  our  old  friend, 
the  Rev.  Thomas  Smyth,  D.  D.,  late  pastor  of  the 
Second  Presbyterian  Church,  Charleston,  S.  C.  This 
sad  event  took  place  August  20.  He  has  been  for 
several    years    suffering    from    paralysis.     He  was  a 


49 


native  of  Ireland,  having  been  born  in  Belfast  in  1808. 
He  came  to  the  United  States  in  1830,  and  in  1832 
became  Pastor  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church. 
He  was  in  labors  most  abundant,  in  the  pulpit  and 
with  his  pen.  He  has  a  world-wide  reputation.  He 
was  a  man  of  broad  views,  and  noble,  catholic  feelings. 
He  was  our  warm  personal  friend,  and  we  are  much 
affected  by  his  death.  When  he  bade  us  good-by 
several  years  since,  it  was  with  deep  emotion,  and  a 
tender  expression  of  brotherly  love,  which  we  sin- 
cerely reciprocated.  We  used  occasionally  to  preach 
in  his  pulpit,  and  to  hear  him  preach.  He  also  wrote 
frequently  for  the  Southern  Christian  Advocate,  when 
we  were  associated  with  Dr.  Wightman  in  the  con- 
duct of  that  journal.  Such  men  are  an  ornament  to 
"  the  holy  catholic  Church,  the  communion  of  Saints." 
Well,  we  shall  soon  pass  off  this  earthly  scene,  and 
meet  him,  and  other  glorified  friends  of  varied  names, 
in  heaven,  where  no  earthly  distinctions  are  needed  or 
known. 


\^From  the  '' Christian  at  JVork^   T.    DeJVitte  Talmage^  Editor^  Neiv     York^ 
Thursday^  October  30,  1873.] 

THOMAS  SMYTH. 

The  gates  of  heaven  have  just  closed  after  the  en- 
trance of  this  good  and  great  man  into  rest.  There 
must  have  been  a  stir  amid  the  glad  populations,  as 
he  joined  the  multitude,  who,  by  his  voice  and  books, 
under  God,  were  brought  there.  What  a  place 
heaven  must  be  to  one  who  has  been  working  hard 
for  forty  years,  and  been  sick  much  of  the  time. 
4 


50 


The  name  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Smyth,  D.  D.,  of 
Charleston,  through  all  the  South  meant  courage, 
purity  and  highest  style  of  evangelism.  He  had  a 
terrible  grip  for  the  Lord's  enemies,  but  the  sweet- 
ness and  balm  of  a  Southern  grove  for  a  bleeding 
heart. 

About  three  years  ago,  while  seeking  health  in 
Charleston  for  one  of  our  family,  we  called  upon  him. 
He  sat  bolstered  up  in  his  sick  room,  happy,  eccen- 
tric, strong  for  God,  gloriously  expectant  of  release. 
We  have  seen  but  few  men  like  him,  his  piety  of  the 
stalwart  order,  with  a  Cromwellian  courage  and  pos- 
itiveness.  The  chairs  about  him  covered  with  news- 
papers and  books,  he  was  fully  abreast  of  the  times, 
and  looked  as  if  anxious  to  get  on  his  crutches  again, 
to  go  forth  to  give  the  sins  of  the  world  another 
sound  pommelling. 

For  his  sake,  we  are  glad  he  is  gone.  Nothing 
could  cure  his  bodily  ailments, — but  a  bath  in  the 
river  from  under  the  throne.  But  neither  his  family 
nor  the  Church  could  afford  to  spare  him.  The 
world  wants  not  less  but  more  of  his  style  of  Chris- 
tianity. 

Much  of  our  modern  religion  begins  with  an  eulogy 
of  human  nature,  instead  of  an  exposition  of  its  utter 
downfall.  It  makes  us  sick  to  hear  all  this  talk  about 
the  dignity  of  manhood,  which  is  a  heap  of  putrefac- 
tion, unless  Saint  John  lied  when  he  described  it  as 
"  wretched,  and  miserable,  and  poor,  and  blind,  and 
naked."  Oh  !  for  more  Thomas  Smyths,  with  foot  on 
the  eternal  rock,  and  hand  on  a  whole  Bible, — daring 
to  tell  the  whole  truth,  and  always  making  pulpit 
and  printing  press  speak  out  in  behalf  of  an  uncom- 
promising Christianity. 


51 


[''  Christian    Union'''    of   Neio    York,    Henry    Ward    Beecher^   Editor^  Sep- 
tember lo,  1873.] 

Another  recently  departed  Minister  is  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Thomas  Smyth,  of  Charleston,  S.  C,  for  more 
than  forty  years  Pastor  of  the  Second  Presbyterian 
Church  in  that  city,  and  long  known  in  the  Church  at 
large.  He  was  a  man  of  wide  attainments,  having 
published  in  his  lifetime  over  thirty  works  on  theo- 
logical subjects.  Unhappily,  in  the  fullness  of  his 
manhood  he  was  smitten  with  paralysis,  but  though 
ever  afterwards  a  cripple,  he  continued  his  ministerial 
work  with  firm  faith  and  indomitable  energy.  He 
died  at  the  age  of  sixty-five,  justly  entitled  to  pro- 
found respect  for  the  bravery  of  his  spirit  under 
trials  which  would  have  prostrated  most  men. 


['•  Christian  Ohser-ver,"  Louis-ville,   Ky.,  September  10,  1873.] 

TO  THE  MEMORY  OF  THE  LATE  RP:V. 
THOMAS  SMYTH,  D.  D. 

Messrs.  Editors  : — A  special  notice  informs  me 
of  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Smyth,  D.  D.,  for 
nearly,  if  not  quite,  forty  years  the  Pastor  of  the 
Second  Presbyterian  Church  of  the  City  of  Charles- 
ton, S.  C.  With  deepest  emotion  I  read  the  elo- 
quent and  just  tribute  to  his  memory,  by  his  co- 
pastor,  the  Rev.  G.  R.  Brackett,  on  the  occasion  of 
the  solemn  obsequies,  held  in  the  Second  Church  on 
last  Friday,  (August  22,)  when  his  mortal  remains 
were  deposited  in  the  Cemetery  of  that  Church. 

It  was  to  me  an  honor  and  pleasure  for  thirty-six 
years  to  number  Dr.  Smyth  among  my  most  intimate 


52 


friends,  and  I  am  therefore  fully  prepared  to  endorse 
the  eloquent  eulogy  of  the  able  co-pastor. 

As  a  scholar,  Dr.  Smyth's  acquaintance  with  liter- 
ature was  extensive  and  thorough;  as  a  theologian, 
he  was  profound  and  rigidly  orthodox ;  as  an  eccle- 
siastic, he  was  a  most  earnest  Presbyterian  of  the 
Apostolic  type ;  as  an  orator,  he  was  grand,  fluent  and 
persuasive  ;  as  a  writer,  he  was  laboriously  exact, 
remarkably  candid,  generous,  charitable  and  courte- 
ous ;  as  a  debater,  he  had  no  equal  in  his  Synod ;  in 
every  department  of  pastoral  duty,  he  was  most 
faithful  and  affectionate,  himself  foremost  in  every 
good  cause,  and  the  fearless  opponent  of  vice  in  every 
shape.  Possessed  of  every  element  of  true  greatness, 
he  was  kind  and  gentle  in  his  deportment  towards  all 
men  ;  an  utter  stranger  to  affectation,  hauteur  and 
superciliousness  ;  his  noble  mind  and  generous  heart 
were  incapable  of  vindictiveness ;  he  ever  manifested 
the  most  respectful  and  considerate  regard  for  the 
opinions  and  feelings  of  his  co-presbyters. 

He  was  indeed  a  Prince  in  Israel  !  May  the  Lord 
send  many  thousands  of  such  laborers  into  His  vine- 
yard. E.  C. 

College  Hill,  Miss.,  Aug.  26,  1873. 


\^'' Southern    Christian   Ad-vocate"   Methcdistj   Macon^  Ga.^  Sept.   lo,  1873.] 

REV.  THOS.  SMYTH,  D.  D. 

A  Memorial  Sketch  in  the  Southern  Presbyterian 
of  this  lamented  Minister,  whose  death  we  announced 
a  short  time  ago,  contains  the   following  paragraph  : 

His  last  illness  was  slow  and  gradual,  and  attended 
with  much  weakness  and  pain,  yet  grace  was  given 


53 


him  to  bear  all  with  meekness  and  patience,  and 
God's  strength  was  sufficient  for  him.  Slowly  he 
descended  into  the  dark  valley,  imperceptibly  almost 
to  those  around  him,  leaning  upon  his  Beloved,  and 
telling  those  who  were  with  him  that  there  was  not  a 
cloud  or  shadow  of  doubt  as  to  his  acceptance  with 
God,  and  that  Jesus  was  ever  near. 


\_"  Southern  Presbyterian"  Columbia^  S.   C,  September  lo,  1873.] 

REV.  DR.  SMYTH. 

Mr.  Editor  : — You  will  much  oblige  the  family  of 
the'  late  Rev.  Dr.  Smyth,  by  allowing  the  correction 
of  the  statement  in  the  notice  of  his  death,  in  your 
issue  of  27th  ult.,  that  "  life  had  become  an  almost 
insupportable  burden,  which  he  longed  inexpressibly 
to  lay  down."  Far  from  being  a  burden,  life  was  full 
of  joy  and  happiness  to  him.  Always  an  ardent  ad- 
mirer of  nature,  in  all  her  varying  moods,  he  enjoyed 
intensely  communion  with  her,  and  to  the  very  last, 
only  three  days  before  his  death,  after  returning 
from  his  daily  ride  in  the  suburbs  of  the  city,  he 
spoke  of  the  pleasure  he  had  received,  and  the 
beautiful  scenes  he  had  witnessed.  In  the  home  cir- 
cle, he  entered  into  all  the  joys  and  cheerfulness  of 
the  family,  and  delighted  to  draw  his  grandchildren 
around  him,  and  took  pleasure  in  sharing  their  mirth 
and  merry  laughter.  He  never  gave  way  to  despon- 
dency about  himself,  and  would  always  answer  the 
inquiries  as  to  his  welfare  with  a  bright  and  happy 
smile.  His  religion  was  a  joyous  service,  into  which 
his  soul  entered  with  all  its  energies,  and  there  were 


54 


no  repinings,  but  cheerful,  willing  submission  to  all 
his  Father's  will. 

Nor  did  he  long  to  lay  down  the  burden  of  life. 
Only  some  two  weeks  before  his  death,  on  Com- 
munion Sabbath,  when  the  Pastor  and  Elders  of  his 
Church  attended  upon  him  in  a  body,  and  admin- 
istered the  sacrament  in  his  chamber,  he  said,  "  Pray 
for  me,  if  it  is  the  Lord's  will,  that  like  Hezekiah, 
he  may  raise  me  up,  and  spare  me  yet  longer  to 
serve  him."  To  his  family  and  friends  his  constant 
request  was,  "  Do  not  forget  to  pray  for  me,  always 
of  course  in  entire  submission  to  God's  will,  that  he 
may  spare  me  longer,  as  I  have  much  to  do,  and 
want  to  finish  many  works  yet  incomplete." 

He  longed  to  /wc,  to  devote  his  time  and  energies 
to  the  service  of  his  Saviour,  and  to  labor  for  the 
advancement  of  his  cause. 


\_^' Centra/  Presbyterian,"  Richmond,  Va.,  September    loth,  1873.] 

REV.  THOMAS  SMYTH,  D.  D. 

Considerable  space  was  given  last  week  to  a  notice 
of  this  venerable  minister  of  our  Church.  The  last 
Southern  Presbyterian  contains  a  sketch  presenting 
other  points  of  view.  Dr.  Smyth  was  one  of  the 
most  learned  men  in  the  Southern  country,  a  devoted 
and  eminent  preacher  and  Pastor,  and  the  publication 
in  our  columns  of  the  article  referred  to — somewhat 
abridged — will  be  gratifying  to  our  readers. 

[Then  followed  extracts  from  the  Charleston 
papers.] 


55 


["  The  Preshytcrian"  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  September   6th,  1 87 3.] 

DEATH  OF  DR.  THOMAS  SMYTH. 

Dr.  Thomas  Smyth,  of  Charleston,  S.  C,  has  been 
well  known  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  for  many 
years.  Pie  was  Pastor  of  the  Second  Presbyterian 
Church,  Charleston,  S.  C,  for  more  than  forty  years. 
Smitten  with  paralysis  in  the  midst  of  his  ministerial 
labors  he  still  worked  on  with  indomitable  spirit,  and 
with  abiding  trust  in  the  goodness  and  love  of  God, 
doing  more  than  most  men  in  firm  health  would  at- 
tempt, and  receiving  an  abundant  blessing  from  God 
on  his  v/ork. 

[Then  followed  extracts  from  the  Charleston 
papers.] 


[^"Southern   Presbyterian"    September  l^th,    1873.] 

THE  LATE  REV.  DR.  SMYTH.   , 

In  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Smyth,  D.  D ., 
the  world  has  lost  one  of  its  brightest  minds  •  the 
Church  one  of  its  ablest  ministers ;  the  cause  of  truth 
one  of  its  bravest  defenders  ;  the  poor  one  of  their 
noblest  benefactors,  and  his  family  and  acquaintances 
their  very  best  earthly  friend.  But  heaven  has  gained 
another  saint,  redeemed  by  the  blood  of  the  Saviour ; 
one  who  was  called  to  pass  through  great  bodily  trib- 
ulation, but  which  only  served  to  sanctify  him,  and 
make  him  meet  for  the  glorious  inheritance  which  is 
reserved  for  the  children  of  God  ;  one  who  washed 
his  robes  and  made  them  white  in  the  blood  of  the 
Lamb,  and  who  now  wears  a  glorious  crown,  glitter- 
ing with  many  bright  jewels,  which  he  was  permitted 
to  gather  on  earth,  and  set  as  brilliants  in  the  treasury 
of  heaven. 


56 


Brave  and  unflinching  in  the  defence  of  truth,  he 
hesitated  not  to  sacrifice  every  earthly  thing — even 
friends  if  necessary,  rather  than  swerve  from  what 
his  conscience  told  him  was  the  path  of  duty.  Made 
of  the  stuff  that  martyrs  are  made  of,  he  would  gladly 
have  gone  to  the  stake  and  died  singing  praises  to 
God,  rather  than  surrender /nWz//f  {or  policy,  duty  for 
delight,  conscience  for  comfort,  or  labor  for  ease.  A 
character  like  this  could  not  pass  through  a  long  pub- 
lic life,  without  coming  at  times  in  direct  conflict 
with  men  who  held  as  tenaciously  to  different  views 
as  he  did,  thereby  causing  earnest  and  sometimes 
sharp  controversies,  which  may  even  have  alienated 
from  him  some  whom  he  would  have  delighted  to 
have  called  "  brethren  ;"  but  even  those  who  may 
have  disagreed  with  him  on  some  points,  could  not 
help  admiring  him  for  his  courage,  his  unflinching 
prosecution  of  what  lie  deemed  the  truth,  and  his  un- 
tiring defence  of  whatever  cause  he  espoused,  or 
opposition  to  whatever  he  could  not  approve  of.  He 
was  one  of  that  class  of  men  which  is,  alas,  rapidly 
passing  away,  but  which  the  Church  and  the  world 
stand  more  in  need  of  now  than  ever  before — men 
who  would  rather  die  than  sacrifice  truth  and  princi- 
ple ! 

As  a  friend,  he  was  always  true,  ever  ready  to  per- 
form any  act  of  kindness  which  lay  in  his  power.  He 
delighted  especially  in  seeking  out  the  young  and 
aiding  them  by  his  counsel  and  advice.  Many  a 
young  man,  who  has  sought  a  home  in  Charleston, 
owes  his  first  start  in  life  to  his  encouraging  words 
and  fatherly  advice  and  attention.  Well  does  the 
writer  of  this  feeble  tribute  remember  the  day  he 
landed  in  the  City   of  Charleston,  and  stepped  upon 


57 


the  shore  of  his  new  home,  a  total  stranger,  without 
one  whom  he  could  call  a  friend.  According  to  his 
custom,  he  sought  the  prayer-meeting,  and  was  di- 
rected to  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church,  one  memo- 
rable Thursday  evening,  where,  for  the  first  time,  he 
saw  and  heard  the  deceased,  from  whose  lips  dropped 
such  sweet  and  earnest  words,  that  he  felt  irresistibly 
drawn  to  him.  That  night  a  friendship  was  formed 
which  grew  in  strength  and  fervor  from  year  to  year, 
and  which  death  has  now  interrupted  for  the  first 
time,  but  which,  in  God's  mercy,  will  be  renewed  in 
heaven,  never  again  to  be  broken. 

Before  the  war,  it  was  the  writer's  privilege  to  aid 
the  deceased  in  copying  and  preparing  for  publication 
a  number  of  his  sermons,  discourses,  essays,  and 
other  literary  productions,  which  were  to  have  been 
given  to  the  public  after  his  death.  All  of  these  man- 
uscripts, copies,  and  originals,  were  destroyed  in  the 
burning  of  the  City  of  Columbia,  whither  they  had 
been  sent  for  safety,  and  thus  the  world  has  lost 
many  valuable  gems,  the  results  of  years  of  study, 
and  toil,  and  experience.  None  but  those  who  had 
read  them,  will  ever  know  of  their  beauty  and  power ; 
the  world  is  that  much  poorer  by  their  loss.  It  is  to 
be  hoped  that  he  may,  since  the  war,  have  prepared 
sermons,  and  other  articles,  which  will  still  be  given 
to  the  public,  for  they  would  be  rich  in  thought, 
earnest  in  expression,  and  valuable  for  the  truths  they 
would  contain  and  the  sentiments  they  would  utter. 

In  April,  1872,  the  deceased  attended  the  spring 
session  of  Charleston  Presbytery,  which  convened 
in  the  City  of  Columbia.  By  special  invitation,  he 
became  a  guest  of  some  of  the  students  in  the  Theo- 
logical   Seminary,  and   made    his    home   while    in 


58 


Columbia  within  those  walls,  so  dear  to  the  memory 
of  a  large  proportion  of  the  ministers  of  our  Church. 
Those  were  happy  days,  only  too  few  in  number,  and 
too  rapidly  passed.  The  infirm  servant  of  Christ 
seemed  to  almost  renew  his  youth,  as  surrounded  by 
those  hopeful  young  learners,  he  talked  to  them  in 
his  most  earnest  manner,  giving  all  who  called  upon 
him  valuable  advice,  cheering  them  on  in  their  labors 
and  studies,  pointing  out  the  dangers  and  difficulties  in 
their  pathway  and  warning  them  how  to  avoid  them  ; 
impressing  upon  them  the  important  responsibilities 
soon  to  be  laid  on  their  shoulders  as  ministers  of  the 
Gospel,  and  counselling  them  to  be  found  much  in 
prayer,  and  to  draw  near  to  the  Saviour  and  live  beneath 
the  shadow  of  his  wings.  None  who  heard  him  then 
can  ever  forget  his  impressive  manner,  he  seemed  like 
one  of  the  prophets  who,  about  to  be  carried  home, 
was  leaving  his  mantle  to  those  who  should  take  up 
the  work  which  he  had  so  faithfully  performed,  and 
carry  it  on  to  the  end.  The  writer  cannot  recall 
those  delightful  days  which  shall  never  return,  spent 
in  the  intimate  society  of  that  blessed  man  of  God, 
and  then  realize  the  fact  that  he  shall  never  meet  him 
on  earth  again,  without  crying  out  in  anguish,  "  My 
father,  my  father,  the  chariot  of  Israel,  and  the  horse- 
men thereof." 

The  deceased  had  memorized  that  beautiful  Rhythm 
of  Bernard  De  Morlaix,  Monk  of  Cluny,  on  "  The 
Celestial  Country,"  and  it  was  his  delight  often  to 
quote  copious  extracts  from  it.  When  returning 
home  from  church  in  Columbia  to  the  Seminary  at 
night,  leaning  upon  the  arms  of  the  writer  and  his 
companion  for  support,  he  would  frequently  pause, 
and  with  his  eye  fixed  on  the  twinkling  stars,  repeat 


59 


line  after  line  of  the  poem  he  loved  so  well.  The 
time,  the  circumstances,  and  all  the  surroundings 
tended  to  give  solemnity  to  the  words  as  he  would 
suddenly  break  forth  with 

"Jerusalem  the  golden, 

With  milk  and  honey  blest, 
Beneath  thy  contemplation, 

Sink  heart  and  voice  oppressed. 
I  know   not,  O  I  know  not, 

What  social  joys  are  there, 
What  radiancy  of  glory, 

what  light  beyond  compare  ! 
And  when  I  fain  would  sing  them 

My  spirit  fails  and  faints  ; 
And  vainly  would  it  image 

The  assembly  of  the  saints. 
They  stand ^  those  halls  of  Syon, 

Conjubilant  with  song. 
And  bright  with  many  an  angel 

And  all  the  martyr  throng. 

"  O  holy,  placid  harp-notes 

Of  that  eternal  hymn  ! 
O  sacred,  sweet  refection  • 

And  peace  of  Seraphim, 
O  thirst  forever  ardent 

Yet  evermore  content  ! 
O  true  peculiar  vision 

Of  God  cunctipotent ! 
Ye  know  the  many  mansions 

For  many  a  glorious  name. 
And  divers  retributions 

That  divers  merits  claim  : 
For  midst  the  constellations 

That  deck  our  earthly  sky. 
This  star  than  that  is  brighter — 

And  so  it  is  on  high." 

In  April,  of  the  present  year,  it  was  the  writer's 
privilege  to  meet  the  deceased  again,  in  the  City  of 


6o 


Charleston,  and  spend  much  time  in  his  society. 
Those  were  precious  hours.  The  affectionate  counsel 
and  advice,  the  admonitions  and  warnings  then  given 
by  one  who  was  just  laying  off  the  harness,  to  one 
who  was  just  girding  it  on,  will  never  be  forgotten. 
God  grant  that  they  may  be  always  heeded  and 
obeyed.  It  was  at  the  close  of  this  pleasant  season 
that  we  rode  together  one  pleasant  afternoon  up  the 
road  above  the  city  into  the  country,  as  we  had  often 
done  before  in  years  that  are  past  and  gone.  The 
deceased  seemed  on  this  occasion,  which  was  to  be 
our  last  earthly  interview,  to  be  peculiarly  impressed 
with  the  thought  of  our  parting,  as  it  had  been  his 
sincere  and  earnest  desire  that  the  writer  should  labor 
in  the  City  of  Charleston,  but  Providence  had  other- 
wise ordered,  and  he  submissively  yielded.  Never 
did  a  loving  father  counsel  son  more  tenderly  and 
affectionately  than  did  he,  during  that  memorable 
ride ;  and  as  he  would  warm  up  with  the  theme  on 
which  he  was  discoursing,  the  work  of  the  Gospel 
Ministry,  his  whole  soul  would  seem  aglow  with 
enthusiasm.  In  the  midst  of  a  sentence  he  would 
drop  the  reins,  raise  his  emaciated  hands  and  in  his 
strong  but  faltering  accents,  so  well  remembered  by 
all  who  have  ever  listened  to  his  fervent  utterances, 
burst  forth  with  some  lines  from  his  favorite  poem  : 


"  Jerusalem,  the  glorious  ! 

The  glory  of  the  elect  ! 
O  dear  and  future  vision 

That  eager  hearts  expect  : 
Even  now  by  faith   I  see  thee  : 

Even  here  thy  walls  discern  : 
To  thee  my  thoughts  are  kindled. 

And  strive  and   pant  and  yearn  : 


6i 


Jerusalem  the  onely, 

That  look'st  from  heaven  below; 
In  thee  is  all  my  glory ; 

In  me  is  all  my  woe  : 
And  though  my  body  may  not 

My  spirit  seeks  thee  fain, 
Till  flesh  and  earth  return  me 

To  earth  and  flesh  again.'' 


Again   would  he  renew  the  conversation,  only  to 
interrupt  it  by  exclaiming  as  we  rode  past  the  green 
j  fields  and  fertile  gardens  : 

''  O  fields  that  know  no  sorrow  ! 
O  State  that  fears  no  strife  ! 

0  princely  bowers  !      O  land  of  flowers  ! 

0  realm  and  home  of  life  !" 

With   peculiar  emphasis   and  yet  with  affectionate 
tenderness  he  repeated  the  following  lines : 

"  Jerusalem,  exulting 
On  that  securest  shore, 

1  hope  thee,  wish  thee,  sing  thee, 
And  love  thee  evermore  ! 

I  ask  not  for  my  merit, 

I  seek  not  to  deny 
My  merit  is  destruction, 
A  child    of  wrath  am  I  ; 

But  yet  with  faith  I  venture 
And  hope  upon  my  way; 

For  those  perennial  guerdons 

1  labor  night  and  day. 
The  best  and  dearest   Father, 

Who  made  me  and  who  saved, 

Bore  with  me  in  defilement, 
And  from  defilement  laved, 

When  in  his  strength   I  struggle, 
For  very  joy  I  leap, 

When  in  my  sin  1  totter, 
I  weep,  or  try  to  weep  : 

But  grace,  sweet  grace  celestial 
Shall  all  its  love  display, 
And  David's  Royal  Fountain 

Purge  every  sin  away." 


62 


As  the  day  drew  near  to  its  close,  we  drove  down 
to  the  water's  edge,  and  sat  quietly  looking  out  over 
the  beautiful  bay,  and  enjoying  the  pleasant  sea 
breezes,  which  proved  so  invigorating  to  his  weak 
body.  All  nature  around  was  clothed  in  its  beautiful 
spring  attire;  the  waves  were  murmuring  at  our  feet, 
as  they  advanced  and  receded  ;  the  sun  was  setting 
gorgeously  in  the  west,  lighting  up  the  entire  scene 
with  a  mellow  golden  tint.  After  drinking  in  the 
lovely  scene  for  a  time,  the  faithful  servant  of  God 
again  broke  forth : 

' '  O  mine  my  golden  Syon  !" 

O  lovelier  far  than  gold  ! 
With  laurel-girt  battalions, 

And  safe  victorious  fold. 
O  sweet  and  blessed  country, 

Shall  I  e-ver  see  thy  face  } 

0  sweet  and  blessed  country. 
Shall  I  ever  win  thy  grace  ? 

1  have  the  hope  within  me 

To  comfort  and  to  bless  ! 
Shall  I  ever  win  the  prize  itself? 
O  tell  me,  tell  me,    yes  !" 

And  then,  in  exultant  strains  he  cried  out,  in  al- 
most prophetic  words,  and  these  were  among  the  last 
the  writer  was  ever  permitted  to  hear  him  utter : 

''  Exult,  O  dust  and  ashes  ! 

The  Lord  shall  be  thy  part. 
His  only,  his  for  ever, 

Thou  shalt  be,  and  thou  art  ! 
Exult,  O  dust  and  ashes  ! 

The  Lord  shall  be  thy  part : 
His  only,  hi&for  e-ver 

Thou  shalt  he  and  thou  art  !" 

Truly  the  Lord  has  been  his  part,  and  he  is  now 
forever  with  the  Lord. 


63 


"Servant  of  God,  well  done  ! 

Rest  from  thy  loved  employ. 
The  battle  fought,  the  victory  won, 

Enter  thy  Master's  joy. 

"  The  pains  of  death  are  past ; 

Labor  and  sorrow  cease; 
And  life's  long  warfare  closed  at  last, 

His  soul  is  found  in  peace. 

"  Soldier  of  Christ,  well  done  ! 

Praise  be  thy  new  employ; 
And  while  eternal  ages  run, 

Rest  in  thy  Saviour's  joy." 

WiNNSBORo',  S.  C,  September  8th,  1873. 


C.   E.   C. 


[^'The  Presbyterian^'"  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  September  dth,  1873.] 

REMARKS 

Of  Rev.  L.  H.  Shuck,  Pastor  of  the  First  Baptist  CJuirdi, 
Charleston,  Sunday,  Aug.  24//;  1873,  suggested  by 
the  death  of  Rev.  Thomas  Smyth,  D.  D.,  for  forty 
years  Pastor  of  the  Second  Presbyteria?i  Church,  Char- 
leston. These  remarks  tvere  made  at  the  conclusion  of 
a  sermon  from  Luke  xxiv :  49. 

Since  the  last  Sabbath,  our  community  has  been 
called  to  mourn  the  death  of  one  of  our  honored 
ministers,  and  with  one  exception  the  oldest  pastor 
in  the  city.  And  it  is  but  fitting  that  his  brethren  in 
the  ministry  should  pay  a  passing  tribute  to  his  mem- 
ory. It  was  my  lot  to  know  Dr.  Smyth  only  in  his 
declining  years,  but  I  saw  enough  of  him  in  our  min- 
isters' prayer  meetings,  and  occasional  interviews,  to 
satisfy   me  that  he    was   a   man  of   attainments    and 


64 


liberal  culture.  I  knew  him  only  as  a  worn-out 
laborer,  but  some  of  you  knew  him  in  his  vigorous 
manhood.  I  heard  him  speak  only  in  broken  utter- 
ances ;  some  of  you  remember  the  time  when  he  was 
regarded  one  of  the  most  eloquent  and  finished 
pulpit  orators  in  the  city.  From  what  I  have  been 
told,  he  was  at  one  time  a  man  of  unusual  power,  and 
a  worthy  successor  of  the  able  Dr.  Henry.  If  great- 
ness consists  in  comprehensive  learning,  in  liberal 
culture,  in  leaving  an  impress  on  the  generation  in 
which  we  live,  and  in  securing  deservedly  a  reputa- 
tion in  both  the  literary  and  religious  world,  then  we 
may  very  justly  call  Dr.  Smyth  a  great  man.  After 
a  pastorate  of  over  forty  years  he  has  passed  away, 
honored  by  his  own  denomination  and  mourned  by 
an  affectionate  congregation  who  followed  him  to  the 
grave  with  tears.  Within  the  past  three  or  four  years 
the  ranks  of  the  ministry  of  Charleston  have  sorely 
suffered.  The  venerable  Dr.  Hanckel,  the  pious  and 
liberal  hearted  Gadsden,  had  but  shortly  preceded 
our  lamented  brother,  and  even  now,  another,  by  far 
the  oldest  of  them  all,  (Rev,  Dr.  Bachman,)  is  fast 
fading  into  eternity,  with  the  weapons  of  his  warfare 
laid  aside  and  his  labors  closed.  Could  these  men 
speak  to  us  to-day,  they  would  testify  to  what  you 
have  already  heard,  that  the  best  of  all  qualifications 
for  the  Master's  service  is  "power  from  on  high." 
In  behalf  of  my  brethren  of  the  ministry,  I  invoke 
your  prayers.  Pray  that  we  may  have  power  from 
on  high,  faithfully  to  serve  the  people  of  our  charge, 
earnestly  to  lead  the  impenitent  to  Jesus,  and  that 
we  may  honor  God  by  serving  and  blessing  the  gen- 
eration in  which  we  live.  As  we  behold  one  after 
another    pass   beyond    our  sight,    let  us    remember 


65 


that  soon  our  turn  must  come,  and  may  that  last 
step  which  we  shall  take  on  earth,  be  the  one  that 
shall  land  us  safe  in  Heaven.  May  great  grace  be 
upon  us  all. 


[From   the  Augusta^  Ga.^   "  Constitutionalist^^    No-vemher  \th^  1873.] 

THE  LATE  DR.  SMYTH,  OF  CHARLESTON, 
S.  C. 

It  has  been  remarked  that  whilst  the  press  of  our 
Southern  country,  both  secular  and  religious,  has 
paid  a  just  tribute  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  this 
distinguished  divine,  our  Northern  cotemporaries  have 
been  economical  of  their  compliments.  Dr.  Smyth 
was  not  only  a  gentleman  of  the  highest  order  of 
talent,  the  most  extensive,  literary  and  theological  re- 
search and  the  most  exquisite  culture,  but  a  man  of 
large  heart,  and  of  noble  impulses. 

These  attributes  of  mind  led  him  to  go  into  the 
war  sentiment  with  his  whole  soul.  He  was,  there- 
fore, universally  beloved  and  deservedly  respected 
by  the  best  men  in  the  South.  It  is  painful  to  ob- 
serve that  the  bitter  spirit  of  the  North  should  betray 
itself  by  a  contemptible  silence,  breathless  as  the 
grave,  where  the  sacred  remains  of  our  venerable 
friend  now  repose. 

Still  it  is  pleasing  to  find  that  such  a  high-minded 
spirit  as  that  of  Dr.  Talmage,  of  Brooklyn,  can  rise 
above  a  prejudice  and  yield  the  merited  meed  of 
honor  to  the  memory  of  a  Christian  gentleman  whose 
"  praise  is  in  all  the  Churches  "  of  two  continents. 

We  clip  the  following  from  the  last  issue  of  The 
Christian  at  Work,  of  which  Dr.  Talmage  is  the  able 
editor : 

[Then  follows  extract  from  the  Christian  at  Work. 
5 


66 


REV.  THOMAS  SMYTH,  D.  D. 

At  an  adjourned  meeting  of  Charleston  Presbytery, 
held  at  Cheraw,  S.  C,  Dr.  Howe,  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  appointed  to  prepare  a  minute  on  the 
death  of  our  venerable  and  beloved  brother,  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Smyth,  D.  D.,  reported  the  following,  which 
was  unanimously  adopted  : 

The  Charleston  Presbytery  has  been  called  to 
mourn,  since  its  last  stated  session,  the  removal  of 
our  beloved  brother,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Smyth,  D.  D., 
from  this  scene  of  his  earthly  labors  to  his  heavenly 
rest.  He  died  in  the  City  of  Charleston  on  the  20th 
of  August,  1873,  in  the  66th  year  of  his  age. 

Born  in  Belfast  on  the  14th  of  June,  1808,  of  Scotch 
and  English  ancestry,  and  devoted  to  the  ministry  by 
his  pious  mother  from  his  birth,  he  entered  the  Col- 
lege in  his  native  city  in  1827,  and  received  its  high- 
est honors.  During  the  last  year  of  his  studies  there, 
he  became  united  with  Christ  as  a  Saviour ;  and 
called,  as  he  believed,  to  the  v/ork  of  the  Ministry, 
he  removed  to  Highbury  College,  London,  where  he 
pursued  the  studies  preparatory  to  that  sacred  office, 
with  his  accustomed  ardor.  In  the  fall  of  1830  his 
parents  removed  to  this  country,  and  he  entered  the 
Senior  Class  at  Princeton,  where  these  studies  were 
completed.  He  was  ordained  the  following  year  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Newark,  as  an  Evangelist,  with  a 
view  to  Missionary  work  in  Florida,  and  soon  after 
came  to  Charleston,  under  the  recommendations  of 
Drs,  Alexander  and  Miller,  as  a  supply  of  the  Second 
Presbyterian  Church. 

In  November,  1832,  he  became  a  member  of 
Charleston  Union  Presbytery,  but  although  he  was 


67 


called  to  the  pastorate  of  the  Second  Church  in  April 
of  that  year,  he  held  this  call  under  consideration, 
doubtful  of  his  health,  which  was  never  firm,  until 
December,  1834,  on  the  17th  of  which  month  his  in- 
stallation took  place. 

Since  this  time,  during  the  various  fortunes  of  our 
Church  and  country,  through  the  stormy  scenes  of 
ecclesiastical  and  theological  debate,  and  the  still 
severer  trials  of  civil  strife,  his  large  and  Christian 
heart  has  been  true  alike  to  his  ancestral  Church  and 
to  the  land  of  his  adoption. 

We  do  not  claim  for  our  departed  brother  absolute 
perfection.  This  belongs  to  no  child  of  God  in  this 
his  militant  state.  But  now  all  the  asperities  of  dis- 
cussion and  debate  are  forever  over.  And  with  a 
mind  of  intense  activity  and  an  unconquered  will, 
which  bore  up  his  enfeebled  frame  beyond  the  expec- 
tation of  all  his  friends,  all  will  accord  to  him  a  large 
and  forgiving  heart,  full  of  schemes  of  Christian  be- 
nevolence and  activity,  pursued  with  almost  un- 
equalled endurance  and  energy  till  the  end  of  life. 

An  ardent  student  himself,  he  was  a  friend  of  edu- 
cation, of  colleges  and  schools,  especially  of  semina- 
ries of  sacred  learning,  whose  libraries  and  endow- 
ments he  sought  to  enlarge. 

He  was  a  friend  of  the  young  student  also,  and 
especially  if  he  sought  the  Gospel  ministry  under  a 
manifest  call  from  God. 

Had  Providence  so  willed,  and  he  had  not  suffered, 
in  common  with  others,  the  impoverishments  of  a 
cruel  war,  he  would  have  left  behind  him,  more  than 
he  has  been  able  to  do,  enduring  monuments  of  his 
zeal  in  this  sacred  cause. 

He  would  have  offered  himself  as  a  missionary  in 


68 


his  early  days,  had  not  enfeebled  health  prevented  his 
personal  labors  on  foreign  shores.  But  the  spirit  of 
missions  did  not  forsake  him.  He  was  their  promi- 
nent representative  for  years  by  his  voice  and  pen, 
both  in  our  Presbytery  and  Synod. 

Of  the  productions  of  his  pen  we  will  not  speak^ 
but  his  earlier  cotemporarics  will  remember  the  in- 
spiring tones  in  which  he  was  wont,  in  the  excitement 
of  debate,  with  a  wonderful  affluence  of  diction,  to 
give  utterance  to  the  thoughts  and  emotions  of  his 
soul,  the  whole  man  transformed,  his  eye  full  of 
expression,  his  form  taller,  seemingly,  than  ever  before. 
But  those  attractive  powers  were  at  length  impeded 
by  sudden  disease,  which  rendered  utterance  imper- 
fect, which  at  one  time  made  him  even  forget  the  lan- 
guage his  mother  taught  him,  till  by  practice  he 
regained  it,  and  his  palsied  tongue  was  loosed,  and 
became  eloquent  again. 

His  spirit  has  left  the  earthly  tabernacle  which  con- 
fined it.  It  has  been  unclothed,  that  it  might  enter 
the  house  not  made  with  hands,  and  await  the  resur- 
rection morning,  when,  with  a  body  strong  in  power, 
glorious  and  spiritual,  it  shall  be  still  serving  and 
praising  our  ascended  Lord. 

For  more  than  forty  years  has  he  gone  in  and  out 
before  us,  for  the  first  half  of  this  time  in  the  posses- 
sion of  his  corporeal  powers,  for  the  last  half  crippled 
with  disease,  but  still  unconquered,  till  he  yielded  to 
the  power  of  death. 

Let  us  remember  that  our  removal  will  not  be  long 
delayed.  The  evening  shades  with  some  are  drawing 
on.  Let  us  redeem  the  time  in  these  days  of  evil, 
and,  like  our  departed  brother,  perform  our  work 
with  conscientious  vigor  while  the  daylight  lasts.     So 


69 


shall  our  lives  be   filled  with  deeds  of  usefulness,  and 
our  end  be  peace. 

[This   paper  was    also    adopted  by  the  Synod    of 
South  Carolina.] 


From  "Southern  Presbyterian^''^  No'vemher  zoth    1873. 

MINUTES  OF   CHARLESTON   PRESBYTERY. 

Charleston  Presbytery  met  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  Columbia,  on  the  24th  of  October,  at  eight 
o'clock,  P.  M.,  and  was  opened  with  a  sermon  by  the 
last  Moderator,  Rev.  J.  R.  Wilson,  D.  D.,  from  John 
xiv.  12.  The  meeting  was  pleasant  and  harmonious, 
though  small ;  there  being  five  ministers  and  three 
ruling  elders  present.  Rev.  J.  R.  Dow  was  elected 
Moderator,  and  Rev.  J.  D.  A.  Brown  Temporary 
Clerk. 

It  was  announced  to  Presbytery  that,  since  our  last 
regular  meeting,  death  had  invaded  the  ranks  of  our 
ministers,  and  the  venerable  Dr.  Thomas  Smyth,  of 
Charleston,  was  no  more.  For  a  period  of  forty 
years  this  beloved  brother  had  delighted  to  meet 
with  his  brethren  in  the  courts  of  the  Church,  and 
deliberate  with  them  upon  the  interests  of  Christ's 
kingdom  ;  but  his  work  on  earth  has  been  completed, 
and  he  has  entered  upon  a  higher  service  in  the 
Church  above.  Rev.  Geo.  Howe,  D.  D.,  Rev.  F.  L. 
Deeper,  and  Mr.  Andrew  Crawford  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  prepare  a  suitable  memorial  of  our  de- 
parted brother,  and  were  allowed  until  next  meeting 
of  Presbytery  to  prepare  it. 


70 


[Extract  from  Correspondence  in  the  ^'■Christian  at  TVork^''  I ^tA  Jan.^  1874.] 

"  Kind  words  never  die."  So  runs  the  song  of 
childhood. 

The  recent  utterances  of  the  Christian  at  Work,  sacred 
to  the  memory  of  Thomas  Smyth,  D.  D.,  of  Charles- 
ton, are  on  their  good  journey,  and  are  full  of  balm 
and  love  to  many  hearts. 

Our  Northern  friends  are,  for  the  most  part,  too  chary 
of"  honor  to  whom  honoris  due,"  and  notably  in  this 
case.  Dr.  Smyth  was  a  man  of  mark.  Patient  in 
labor  and  abounding  in  good  works, — he  was  a  great 
toiler.  His  genius  was  for  books,  and  the  dearest 
companions  of  his  life  were  those  "  talismans  and 
spells  "  which  filled  his  library  shelves. 

His  devotion  to  these  was  well  known,  and  his 
conversation,  before  he  lost  the  power  of  easy  speech, 
was  highly  seasoned,  invariably  with  Attic  salt. 

The  early  fathers  of  the  Church  never  had  a  more 
diligent  student  than  Dr.  Smyth,  and  his  numerous 
review  articles,  and  several  ponderous  volumes,  testify 
to  his  opinion  of  their  worth. 

A  more  faithful  pastor  never  fed  a  flock.  His 
pastoral  duty  was  never  set  aside  by  disinclination, 
while  the  sick  and  suffering  among  his  one-time 
numerous  flock,  were  the  objects  of  his  constant  care. 
The  Doctor,  at  one  period  of  his  life,  rather  delighted 
in  controversy,  and  many  clever  things  are  told  of 
his  adroitness,  pertinacity  and  honesty.  His  forte 
was  history,  and  many  an  unready  antagonist  learned 
to  dread  his  thunderbolts,  which  he  hurled  with  skill 
from  the  armory  of  the  fathers. 

When  the  war  came.  Dr.  Smyth  was  reaping  many 
honors  of  a  faithful  pastorate.  His  congregation  was 
large,  intelligent,  wealthy  and  liberal.     His   worldly 


71 


possessions  were  reasonably  adequate  to  his  possible 
wants  to  the  end  of  life.  His  position  in  society  was 
that  of  tutor,  example  and  friend. 

His  position  during  the  unhappy  war  is  well  known 
North  and  South.  Whatever  convictions  he  might 
have  had  of  the  fundamental  ground  of  issue,  his 
whole  energy  and  life  were  unreservedly  pledged  to 
his  adopted  section.  And  when  peace  returned,  the 
old  champion  sat  beneath  its  breeze,  broken  in  fortune 
and  in  health.  For  a  time,  as  I  gleaned  in  several 
conversations  with  him,  his  hopes  seemed  shattered 
beyond  repair  and  scattered  at  the  grave's  mouth. 

His  was  never  a  murmuring,  but  often  a  wondering 
spirit.  "  What  hath  God  wrought,"  and  why?  were 
questions  forced  upon  his  holiest  meditation.  But 
faith  is  God's  voice  even  in  the  dust.  From  the 
depths  this  good  man  cried,  and  the  Lord  heard  him 
and  delivered  him  out  of  all  his  troubles.  I  knew 
Dr.  Smyth  quite  well  after  the  war,  and  I  know  that 
he  cherished  warm  Christian  sentiments  toward  all 
men,  and  forgave  those  who,  in  deed  or  thought, 
wronged  him,  as  he  also  hoped    for  forgiveness. 

The  best  of  men  may  yet  have  some  lapse,  and 
the 

'•Enchanting  Sage  !   whose  living  lessons  teach 
What  heights  of  virtue  human  efforts  reach," 

may  yet  show  inequalities  of  character  and  mistakes 
of  faith  which  are  venial  at  most,  for  the  palace  of 
triumph  lifts  its  glorious  dome  beyond  the  Slough  of 
Despond,  the  Hill  of  Difficulty  and  the  Valley  of  the 
Shadow  of  Death. 

Scars  in  the  reckoning  show  and  tell  the  fierce- 
ness of  the  strife.  I  shall  hope  to  see  him  at  the 
resurrection  of  the  just. 


72 


\_" Charleston  Daily  Neius  and  Courier^'''  December    I ^tA,  1873.] 

MEMORIAL  SERVICES. 

The  Second  Presbyterian  Church  was  filled  to   its 
utmost  capacity,  last  evening,  by  a  congregation  com- 
posed of  persons  from  most  of  the  Protestant  denomi- 
nations in  the  city,  the  occasion  being  the  services  in 
commemoration  of  the  life  and  labors  of  the  late  Rev. 
Dr.  Smyth.     The  interior  of  the  Church   was  appro- 
priately draped  in    mourning,  and   upon   the  commu- 
nion table  and  the  pulpit   the   symbols   of  grief  were 
tastefully  relieved  by  beautiful  wreaths  of  immortelles, 
the     tribute    of    loving     hearts  to   the    memory    of 
the  Reverend  Pastor.     The  pulpit  was  occupied  by 
the  Rev.  G.  R.  Brackett,  Pastor  of  the  Church  ;  the 
Rev.  W.  H.   Adams,  of  Circular  Church  ;  the  Rev. 
J.  L.  Girardeau,  of  Glebe  street  Church,  and  the  Rev. 
C.   S.  Vedder,  of  the    Huguenot  Church.     The  dis- 
course,   which    was     delivered    by   the    Rev.    G.    R. 
Brackett,  from  the  text  Second  Timothy,  4th  chapter, 
6th    and   7th   verses — "  For   I    am  now  ready  to  be 
offered,  and  the  time  of  my  departure  is  at  hand.     I 
have    finished   my  course.     I   have  kept    the  faith." 
The   length  of  the    tribute   and    its  exhaustive   and 
elaborate  character  renders  it  impossible  here  to  do 
more  than  notice  its  salient  points.     It  was  a  fitting 
tribute  to  a  faithful  soldier  of  the  Cross,  whose  labors 
through  a  period   of  over  forty  years  had  made  his 
name  a  household  word  in  Charleston.  The  preacher, 
after  a  rapid  review  of  the  traits  of  character  which 
gave    so    much    prominence  to    the    deceased,    pro- 
ceeded to  give  a  comprehensive  history   of  his   life 
and  labors.     PVom  his   earliest  boyhood,  he  followed 
his  career  through  all  his  earlier  trials  and  disappoint- 


73 


merits,  his  studies,  pursued  with  unfaltering  zeal  and 
fidelity  in  the  face  of  almost  overwhelming  discour- 
agements, his  ministerial  and  pastoral  labors,  carried 
on  despite  the  allurements  of  the  world  of  letters,  in 
which  the  deceased  was  a  brilliant  luminary,  and  his 
untiring  ministration  to  the  wants  of  his  flock.  All 
these  were  touched  upon  with  a  tenderness  that  evi- 
dently sprang  from  a  close  and  intimate  friendship 
with  the  lamented  divine.  He  then  noticed  the  thirty 
odd  volumes  which  constitute  Dr.  Smyth's  contribu- 
tion to  the  literature  of  the  Church.  At  the  conclu- 
sion of  the  discourse,  the  congregation  were  dismissed 
with  a  benediction,  pronounced  by  the  Rev.  J.  L. 
Girardeau. 


TRIBUTE  OF  RESPECT. 

At  a  recent  meeting  of  the  Court  of  Deacons  of  the 
Second  Presbyterian  Church,  Charleston,  S.  C,  the 
following  paper  was  presented  by  Elder  R.  C.  Gil- 
christ, and  unanimously  adopted  : 

We  meet  this  evening  under  circumstances  of  pecu- 
liar solemnity.  The  one  whose  wisdom  for  many  years 
has  guided  our  deliberations,  and  whose  zeal  and  piety 
gave  tone  and  energy  to  our  labors  for  Christ's 
Church,  has  heard  the  summons  to  go  up  higher,  and 
left  us  to  mourn  our  irreparable  loss.  From  the 
earliest  youth  of  most  of  us,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Smyth, 
D.  D.,  has  been  associated  with  every  experience,  en- 
tering into  our  joys,  and  by  his  warm  and  gushing 
sympathy  made  us  feel  that  he  was  one  with  us.  From 
his  lips  we  heard  of  Jesus'  love,  and  his  was  the 
hand  that  led  us  to  His  feet;  and  when  called  to  pass 
6 


74 


through  seasons  of  afifliction,  to  him,  more  than  any- 
other  earthly  comforter,  we  fondly  turned,  and  up- 
borne in  the  arms  of  his  faith,  we  have  been  enabled, 
even  while  passing  through  the  valley  of  Baca,  to  find 
a  well  for  our  mourning  souls.  He  was  inexpressi- 
bly dear  to  all  his  people,  as  a  friend,  a  counsellor, 
and  a  pastor  ;  to  us,  as  co-laborers  with  him,  and  offi- 
cers in  the  Church,  he  was  one  in  whose  steps  we 
could  walk  unfalteringly;  and  with  his  wisdom  to  guide, 
and  his  zeal  and  earnestness  to  incite,  we  have  been 
strengthened  for  the  performance  of  the  duties 
devolving  upon  us.  Now  no  longer  will  we  be 
shepherded  by  him.  We  miss  his  ready  sympathy, 
his  wrestling  at  the  throne  of  Grace,  the  bright  exam- 
ple of  his  steadfast  faith  and  patience,  and  submis- 
sion to  his  Father's  will ;  but  following  him,  as  he 
walked  in  the  footsteps  of  Jesus,  we  pray  that  his 
mantle  may  fall  on  the  Church  he  loved  so  well,  and 
for  which  he  labored  so  long  and  faithfully. 

Resolved,  i.  That  this  Deacon's  Court,  while  realiz- 
ing the  great  loss  this  Church  has  sustained  in  the 
death  of  its  Pastor  for  forty  years,  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Smyth,  D.  D.,  yet  bows  with  submission  to  the  will 
of  God. 

2.  That  we  tender  to  his  bereaved  family  our  deep- 
est sympathy. 

3.  That  a  page  in  the  Minute  Book  of  this  Session, 
and  of  the  Deacons,  be  inscribed  to  his  memory. 

4.  That  these  proceedings  be  published  in  the 
Soiitherti  Presbyterian. 


75 


RESOLUTIONS  ADOPTED  BY  THE  SESSION 
OF  ZION  CHURCH,  CHARLESTON,  S.  C. 

39  Bull  street,  December  8th,  1873. 

Dear  Mrs.  Smyth :  I  have  the  mournful  privilege  of 
transmitting  to  you  and  the  family,  the  accompany- 
ing resolutions  adopted,  at  the  meeting,  by  the  Session 
of  Zion  Church. 

I  ought  to  say  that  the  delay  of  the  Session  in  dis- 
charging this  office  of  honor  to  the  lamented  dead, 
and  of  sympathy  with  his  bereaved  family,  has  been 
occasioned  by  Providential  circumstances  which  were 
beyond  their  control. 

I  need  not  assure  you  that  my  humble  prayers  and 
best  wishes  will  attend  you  and  yours  while  we  are 
fellow-pilgrims  in  this  vale  of  tears. 

Life's  journey  ended,  may   we  meet  the  departed, 
and  with  him  unite  in  praises  to  a  Redeeming  God, 
which  will  never  be  interrupted  by  sobs  in  the  dying 
chamber,  or  groans  at  the  open  grave. 
With  the  highest  regards, 
Very  truly,  yours, 

JOHN  L.  GIRARDEAU. 

1.  Resolved,  That  the  past  relations  of  the  Second 
Presbyterian,  the  Glebe  Street  Presbyterian,  and  the 
Zion  Presbyterian  Churches,  render  it  proper  that,  as 
a  session,  we  record  the  signal  Providence  involved 
in  the  removal  by  death  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Smyth, 
D.  D.,  which  occurred  on  the  20th  of  August,  1873. 

2.  Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  Rev.  Dr.  Smyth, 
we  lament  the  departure  from  the  sphere  of  his  earth- 
ly labors  of  an  eminent  servant  of  Christ,  of  one 
who  was  a  gifted  and  eloquent  preacher  of  the  Gospel, 
a  powerful  platform  orator,  an  indefatigable  worker  in 


76 


the  cause  of  the  Lord,  a  proHfic  and  useful  writer,  and 
a  zealous  and  able  advocate  of  the  scriptural  position 
of  Presbyterianism  against  the  claims  of  Prelacy. 

3.  Resolved,  That  we  hereby  tender  our  most  re- 
spectful and  affectionate  condolence  to  the  family  of 
our  departed  brother  under  their  affliction,  with  the 
prayer  that  they  may  all  meet  at  last  where  parting 
shall  be  forever  unknown. 

4.  Resolved,  That  we  hereby  beg  most  respectfully 
to  express  to  our  Sister  Session  and  Congregation  of 
the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  our  appreciative 
sense  of  the  afflictive  Providence  which  has  removed 
so  distinguished  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  from  the 
relation  which  he  had  long  sustained  to  them. 

Extract  from  the  Records  of  Session,  Zion  Church. 

W.  F.  ROBERTSON, 

Clerk  of  Session. 


\_Extract  from    address    of  Rev.     C.    C.  Pinckney  before    the    Bible   Society 
Charleston,  S.   C,  at  their  S^d  Anniversary,  yanuary^l^,  1874.] 

Our  next  oldest  Vice-President,  Dr.  Smyth,  has 
also  finished  his  course  of  suffering.  He  has  borne 
about  a  body  of  death  for  many  years  ;  but  his  totter- 
ing steps  constantly  brought  him  to  our  quarterly  and 
annual  meetings.  Yet  with  this  diseased  body  and 
enfeebled  mind,  his  energy  of  will  made  him  abundant 
in  labors  unto  the  end.  His  familiarity  with  all  current 
theological  literature  often  surprised  me,  and  I  have 
never  felt  more  self-condemned  than  when  coming  out 
of  the  study  of  that  indomitable  man.  Mere  wreck 
that  he  was,  he  knew  more,  especially  of  English 
writers,  than  any  other  minister  of  my  acquaintance. 

"  For  my  name's  sake  thou  hast  labored,  and  hast 
not  fainted,"  might  be  his  truthful  epitaph. 


THE  CHRISTIAN  WARRIOR  CROWNED. 


A  DISCOURSE 

COMMEMORATIVE    OF    THE    LIFE, 
CHARACTER    AND    LABORS 

OF   THE 

Rev.  Thos.  Smyth,  D.  D. 

delivered  in  the 
Second   Presbyterian   Church^ 

CHARLESTON,  S.  C, 
DECEMBER     14th,    1873, 

BY    THE 

Rev.  G.   R.   Brackett,    Pastor. 


printed  at   request   of   the   congregation. 


CHARLESTON,  S.  C. 
WALKER,    EVANS  A   COGSWELL, 

Nosi  3  Brcwd  A  109  Kut  Baj  Street!. 
1874. 


The  Christian   Warrior    Crowned. 


A  DISCOURSE 
Commemorative   of  the  Life,  Cliaracter  and  Labors 

OF    THE 

Rev.    THOMAS    SMYTH,    D.   D. 

DELIVERED  IN  THE  SECOND   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH, 
Charleston,  S.  C,  Dec.    14th,    1873, 

BY    THE 

Rev.    G.    R.    BRACKETT,    Pastor. 


2  Tim.  4  :  17.  "I  am  now  reidy  to  be  offered,  and  the  time  of  my 
departure  is  at  hand.  I  have  fought  a  good  fight.  I  have  finished  my 
course,  I  have  kept  the  faith  :  henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown 
of  righteousness." 

"  I  do  not  fear  to  affirm,"  says  Cousin,  "  that  the 
two  pursuits  which  most  promote  the  development 
of  great  individualities,  are  war  and  philosophy.  *  *  * 
Nowhere  do  the  masses  identify  themselves  more 
visibly  with  great  men  than  on  the  field  of  battle  ;  but 
if  the  identification  is  more  brilliant  in  the  great  cap- 
tain, it  is  more  intimate  and  profound  in  the  great 
philosopher."  We  are  assembled  to-night,  dear 
friends,  to  contemplate  the  character  and  life  of  a 
Christian  warrior,  and  a  Christian  philosopher.  Great 
in  action  and  great  in  thought,  he  fought  bravely  and 
successfully  the  "good  fight  of  faith;"  and,  in  the 
solitude  of  the  closet,  ceased  not,  day  and  night,  to 
gather  the  precious  seed,  and  sow  the  golden  harvest 
of  philosophic  wisdom. 


\ 


The  name  of  Dr.  Smyth  belongs  as  much  to  his- 
tory as  to  biography  ;  as  much  to  posterity  as  to  the 
generation  he  so  valiantly  and  faithfully  served.  He 
so  identified  himself  v/ith  the  age  in  which  he  lived, 
he  sympathized  so  heartily  and  so  profoundly  with 
the  cause  of  truth  in  every  department,  and  the  cause 
of  humanity  in  every  aspect,  that  justice  to  his  mem- 
ory would  require  us  to  ascend  above  the  level  plain 
of  his  daily  life,  above  the  lower  summits  of  his  ordi- 
nary ministry,  to  some  historical  height,  overlooking 
the  world-wide  sphere  of  his  influence.  My  brief  and 
limited  acquaintance  with  the  private  character,  the 
protracted  ministry,  and  published  writings  of  your 
late  greatly  beloved  and  venerated  pastor,  oppresses 
me  with  a  profound  sense  of  my  inability  to  do  am- 
ple justice  to  his  character  and  labors,  and  present 
you  with  a  worthy  memorial.  To  reproduce  the 
lineaments  of  youth,  and  the  countenance  and  form 
of  manhood  from  the  wreck  of  disease  and  the  in- 
firmities of  age,  is  a  rare  attainment  of  art.  It  is  still 
a  cherished  hope  that  some  master-hand  may  be 
found  to  fill  up  this  dim  and  defective  outline,  and 
present  the  world  with  a  complete  and  satisfactory 
portraiture  of  this  remarkable  man. 

If,  in  sketching  the  more  prominent  features  of  his 
mental  and  moral  character,  the  ardent  love  of  the 
artist  should  seem  to  supply  the  lack  of  details  by 
too  great  brilliancy  of  coloring,  no  apology  will  be 
required  by  those  who  enjoyed  a  personal  acquaint- 
ance with  the  original,  in  his  prime.  We  are  dis- 
turbed by  no  fears  that  even  the  partialities  of  friend- 
ship will  betray  our  pencil  into  an  exaggerated  repre- 
sentation of  those  virtues  and  deeds  which  the  "  fin- 
ger of  truth  has  already  drawn   upon  your  hearts." 


We  may  do  more  honor  to  ths  memory  of  a  great 
and  good  man,  by  glorifying  the  Master  who  so  roy- 
ally endowed  him  with  the  gifts  of  nature  and  of 
grace,  than  by  burning  idolatrous  incense  at  the 
shrine  of  human  merit. 

Th^  R.2V.  Thorn  IS  Smyth,  D.  D.,was  born  in  Bel- 
fast, Ireland,  on  the  14th  of  June,  1808,  of  English 
and  Scotch  parentage.  He  was  reared  upon  Irish  soil 
in  an  eventful  period  of  her  history.  A  philosophic 
mind  might  trace  with  interest  and  profit  the  influ- 
ences of  four  nationalities  in  the  formation  of  charac- 
ter, and  show  how  the  roots  that  drew  their  original 
life  from  the  blood  of  two  races,  germinated  and  grew 
in  the  soil  and  climate  of  a  third,  and  in  the  free, 
bracing  atmosphere  of  a  fourth,  expanded  into  sum- 
mer bloom,  and  autumnal  ripeness.  And  how  this 
interest  would  increase  at  every  step,  as  the  analyst  dis- 
covered that  he  was  tracing  the  history  of  a  life  that 
absorbed  every  element  of  nourishm.ent  from  every  soil 
and  clime  into  its  own  intellectual  and  moral  character 

His  mother  is  described  as  a  woman  of  superior 
intelligence  and  attainments,  of  deep  and  earnest  piety, 
whose  highest  aspiration  was  to  train  her  children 
in  the  fear  and  love  of  God.  He  ever  cherished  her 
memory  with  filial  tenderness,  and  always  mentioned 
her  name  with  the  utmost  reverence.  Alluding  to 
her  maternal  kindness  and  care  for  him  during  the 
critical  season  of  his  youth,  he  wrote  in  his  private 
journal  as  follows  :  *'  Most  blessed  mother,  could  my 
thanks  now  reach  thee,  in  thy  bright  throne  above,  I 
should  here,  amid  these  falling  tears,  pour  forth  the 
grateful  acknowledgments  of  thy  long  cherished  son. 
I  love  to  think  of  thee,  my  mother,  of  thy  illimitable, 
inexhaustible  love." 


The  youngest  of  six  sons,  he  was  of  so  frail  a  con- 
stitution, that  no  one  expected  him  to  live  beyond  the 
period  of  childhood.  But  he  was  a  *'  chosen  vessel." 
Consecrated  from  his  birth  to  the  Gospel  ministry,  his 
pious  mother  committed  her  treasure  to  a  covenant- 
keeping  God.  Her  strong  faith  and  earnest  prayers 
were  interwoven  with  that  sovereign  and  gracious 
Providence,  that  marvellously  preserved  him,  not- 
withstanding the  continuance  of  his  delicate  health, 
and  girded  him  for  his  extraordinary  mission. 

His  excessive  fondness  for  books  was  early  de- 
veloped. When  his  youthful  companions  were  enjoy- 
ing the  diverting  sports  of  boyhood,  he  might  have 
been  found,  in  his  favorite  cloister,  embosomed  in 
the  dense  foliage  of  a  tree  poring  over  the  pages 
of  a  juvenile  book,  and  often  "shedding  his  sympa- 
thetic tears  over  DeFoe's  inimitable  story."  Robin- 
son Crusoe,  he  remarked,  was  to  his  credulous  youth, 
a  true  history,  and,  in  later  life,  he  loved  to  speak  of 
it  as  one  of  his  classics.  The  influence  of  fairy  tales 
and  ghost  stories  upon  his  imagination  was  so  "  deep 
and  ineffaceable,  that  neither  philosophy  nor  religion 
could  wholly  eradicate  it." 

It  is  interesting  and  instructive  to  observe  how 
those  whom  God  elects  to  be  leaders  and  champions 
in  His  cause,  are  trained  in  the  school  of  adversity, 
and  called  to  bear  the  yoke  of  discipline  in  their 
youth.  At  the  early  age  of  seventeen,  the  young  and 
enthusiastic  student  was  interrupted  in  his  studies  by 
one  of  those  great  commercial  disasters  which  sweep 
away  the  fortunes  of  the  most  wealthy  in  a  day,  and 
which  reduced  his  father  from  the  easy  and  inde- 
pendent circumstances  of  affluence  to  comparative 
poverty.     Feeling  that  he  was  now  thrown  upon  his 


own  resources,  and  also  called  to  aid  his  parents  in 
bearing  the  burden  of  their  misfortunes,  he  resolved 
to  accept  a  profitable  business  offer,  and  exchange  the 
academy  for  the  counting  house.  But  with  a  strength 
of  will  and  firmness  of  purpose  equal  to  her  Christian 
faith  and  hope,  his  heroic  mother  determined  that  the 
fond  expectations  she  had  planted  in  so  promising  a 
soil,  should  not  be  suddenly  blighted  by  the  untimely 
frosts  of  misfortune.  She  would  labor  with  her 
own  hands  and  her  noble  boy  should  pursue  his 
studies. 

He,  accordingly,  entered  the  Institute  at  Belfast, 
which  was  then  connected  with  what  is  now  the 
Queen's  College,  as  a  preparatory  or  High  School. 
His  academical  career  was  bright  with  glowing  pro- 
phecies of  his  future  eminence.  The  love  of  books 
was  the  strongest  passion  of  his  nature,  and  the  acqui- 
sition of  knowledge  his  highest  ambition.  It  is  not 
surprising  that,  with  a  mind  so  early  trained  by 
habits  of  close  and  protracted  application,  and  so 
richly  nourished  by  various  and  extensive  reading,  he 
should  havebeen  prominent  among  his  fellow-students, 
and  borne  off  a  prize  at  every  examination. 

In  reviewing  his  early,  youthful  experience,  he  re- 
marked:  "This  period  of  life  is  regarded  generally 
happy.  I  am  persuaded  that  it  is  only  so  compara- 
tively ;  and,  when  viewed  retrospectively,  my  expe- 
rience testifies  that  it  is  a  troubled  dream,  a  mingled 
scene  of  joy  and  sorrow,  of  hopes  and  fears,  of  de- 
lights and  disconsolations,  of  boisterous  mirth  and 
gloomy  sadness.  Youth,  to  me,  was  a  wild  and  fever- 
ish romance.  It  was  the  poetry  of  life,  only  because 
it  was  full  of  the  most  tragic  incidents,  and  convulsed 
by  tempestuous  and  whirlwind  passions." 

-I 1. 


So  intense  was  his  love  of  study  at  this  period,  that 
he  looked  forward  to  every  academical  term  with  sor- 
rowful regret.  Vacation  was  a  dreary  interval,  dur- 
ing which  he  was  to  be  deprived  of  his  favorite  pur- 
suit, which  constituted  for  him  the  chief  charm  and 
privilege  of  existence.  Speaking  of  his  vacation 
days,  he  said  :  "  I  lingered  behind  the  racing  throng 
hurrying  homeward,  as  if  fearful  of  losing  a  moment 
of  the  precious  season.  I  have  felt  a  most  unac- 
countable sickness,  of  a  most  painful  kind,  and  I  have 
walked  along,  as  in  sadness,  even  when  carrying  an 
armful  of  prizes." 

In  1827,  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  he  became  a  stu- 
dent at  Belfast  College.  Exhibiting  here  the  same 
avarice  of  knowledge,  and  the  same  indefatigable  in- 
dustry in  his  preparations  for  the  class-room,  he 
maintained  his  relative  position,  as  prhrms  inter  pares \ 
and,  winning  prizes  in  every  branch  of  study,  his  su- 
perior scholarship  was  acknowleged  hy  his  entire 
class,  of  nearly  a  hundred  students,  who,  by  their 
unanimous  suffrage,  awarded  to  him  the  highest 
prize. 

It  was  within  these  classic  walls  that,  under  the 
private  instructions  the  famous  tragedian,  Sheridan 
Knowles,  he  began  to  develop  those  powers  of  elocu- 
tion, which  afterward  gave  him  a  place  among  the 
princes  of  pulpit  oratory. 

During  his  senior  year,  his  religious  impression, 
which  had  been  early  developed  and  always  lively, 
were,  by  the  effectual  grace  of  God,  ripened  into 
deep,  settled  convictions.  Knowing  his  strong  self- 
will  and  independent  spirit,  we  are  prepared  for  the 
statement  that  he  did  not  find  peace  in  believing  until 
after  a  long  and  bitter  struggle  with  his  carnal  nature. 


The  exercises  which  the  soul  undergoes  in  this 
great  spiritual  change,  undoubtedly  exert  a  decided 
influence  over  the  subsequent  life.  The  conversion 
of  young  Smyth  seemed  to  have  been  ordered  with 
reference  to  the  sphere  of  eminent  usefulness  for 
which  the  Providence  of  God  was  training  him. 
Through  darkness,  doubt,  and  conflict,  he  emerges 
into  the  serene  liglit  of  the  Gospel,  with  decided,  un- 
equivocal views  of  truth,  prepared,  as  a  good  soldier, 
to  follow  his  leader  with  no  hesitating  or  faltering  step. 

He  was  twenty-one  years  of  age  when  he  made  a 
public  profession  of  his  faith  in  Christ.  He  became 
at  once  an  active,  zealous  member  of  the  Church,  and 
an  earnest  Sabbath-school  teacher. 

It  was  in  a  Sabbath-school  that  he  made  his  first 
public  prayer.  His  father  was  an  Elder  for  many 
years  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  Dr. 
Samuel  Hanna,  (father  of  Dr.  Wm.  Hanna,)  was  pas- 
tor. "  The  Presbyterian  Church,  at  this  time,"  he 
writes,  "  was  sadly  degenerated,  both  in  doctrine  and 
discipline,  and  the  erection  of  an  independent  church 
on  principles  of  Evangelical  purity,  was  received 
with  favor.     In  this  church  I  was  brought  up." 

He  was  now  prepared  and  graciously  inclined  to 
fulfil  the  desire  cherished  from  childhood  and  devote 
himself,  with  all  his  talents  and  acquisitions  to  the 
sacred  calling  to  which  his  pious  mother  had  conse- 
crated him.  He  prosecuted  his  theological  studies 
at  Highbury  College,  in  London.  Here,  to  quote  his 
own  emphatic  language,  his  "  appetite  for  books  be- 
came rapacious,"  to  procure  which  he  would  undergo 
the  most  painful  self-denials,  sacrificing  his  comfort, 
in  the  severest  inclemency  of  winter,  bartering  his 
very  food  and  fuel  for  his  coveted  treasures. 


10 


In  addition  to  his  theological  studies,  he  attended 
a  course  of  scientific  lectures  in  London,  "  read  the 
higher  classics,  and  roamed  at  will  through  the  tomes 
of  learned  antiquity."  But  his  feeble  constitution  be- 
gan to  relax  under  the  constant,  unremitting  strain  of 
exhausting  study.  He  believed  that  he  was  sinking 
into  a  rapid  decline.  He  afterward  wrote,  however, 
that  it  was  probably  "  no  more  than  the  exhaustion 
resulting  to  a  feeble  constitution  from  excessive  habits 
of  intense  study,  and  an  enthusiastic  vehemence  and 
endeavor,  which  sought  to  read  everything,  study 
everything,  and  accomplish  at  all  hazards,  what  I  de- 
termined to  undertake." 

All  the  bright  hopes  he  had  cherished  of  enter- 
ing the  Gospel  ministry  seemed  suddenly  to  wither, 
with  all  their  summer  bloom,  in  the  wintry  atmos- 
phere of  disappointment.  At  this  painful  crisis  his 
parents  were  preparing  to  remove  to  America,  where 
the  most  of  their  children  were  already  settled.  Com- 
pelled to  relinquish  his  studies  he  was  the  more  readi- 
ly persuaded  to  quit  his  native  land,  and  follow  the 
guiding  hand  of  Providence,  across  the  seas,  to  the 
shores  of  the  New  World.  This  was  his  second  les- 
son of  discipline  in  the  school  of  adversity.  The 
shadow  of  the  cross  fell  darkly  upon  him  as  he  bowed 
his  lofty,  ambitious  spirit,  under  this  crushing  trial, 
and  calmly  submitted  to  the  sovereign  will  of  the 
Father. 

He  embarked  with  his  parents  for  New  York  in 
August,  1830.  Immediately  upon  his  arrival  he 
joined  his  eldest  brother  in  Patterson,  N.  J. 

He  connected  himself  with  the  Presbyterian  Church 
of  which  Dr.  Fisher  was  Pastor,  and  by  whom  he 
was    introduced  to   the   Newark  Presbytery.     Being 


a 


taken  under  their  care  as  a  candidate  for  the  ministry, 
he  was  sent  by  them  to  Princeton  Seminary.  He  en- 
tered the  senior  class,  and  before  graduating  received 
an  invitation  to  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Charleston,  S.  C.  This  Church  having  applied  to 
Princeton  for  a  young  man  to  supply  their  vacant  pul- 
pit, the  letter  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Smyth, 
and  with  the  advice  of  and  earnest  solicitation  of  his 
Professors,  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander  and  Dr.  Miller, 
the  invitation  was  accepted,  and  in  November,  1831,  he 
entered  upon  his  ministerial  labors  in  Charleston,  S.  C. 

During  his  seminary  year  at  Princeton,  he  supplied, 
for  about  two  months  the  pulpit  of  Dr.  Phillips,  of 
New  York,  whose  church  building  was  then  located  on 
Wall  Street,  now  a  part  of  Jersey  City.  With  this  ex- 
ception, we  may  say  that  the  long  and  useful  ministry 
of  Dr.  Smyth  began  and  ended  with  the  favored  peo- 
ple of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  of  Charleston. 

Preaching  with  great  acceptance  for  six  months,  he 
received  a  formal  call  to  become  your  Pastor,  which 
he  gave  the  preference  over  several  other  calls  from 
important  fields.  To  use  his  own  words  :  "  I  came 
here  a  perfect  stranger,  my  only  introduction  being  a 
letter  from  my  Professors  to  the  President  of  the 
Church  Corporation,  certifying  that  I  was  the  individ- 
ual recommended  by  them."  In  one  of  his  anniver- 
sary sermons,  he  says  :  "  It  was  in  April,  1832,  that 
we  first  became  acquainted  as  minister  and  people. 
Very  wonderful  were  the  leadings  of  Providence,  by 
which  I  was  brought  to  this  country,  and  to  this  part 
of  it,  and  by  which  you  were  led  to  extend  to  me  an 
invitation  to  supply  your  pulpit,  for  a  year.  In 
August,  1832,  you  presented  to  me  a  permanent  call  to 
the  pastoral  charge  of  this   church.     This,  in  pursu- 


12 


ance  of  a  long-established  conviction  that  to  the  hap- 
piness of  such  a  connection,  intimate  acquaintance 
with  each  other  is  required,  I  long  retained,  and  left 
open  to  any  change  in  your  views.  Having  rendered 
this  building  everything  I  could  desire,  and  propor- 
tioned it  to  my  feebleness  of  body.  I  cordially 
accepted  your  unanimous  call,  and  was  installed  by  the 
Charleston  Union  Presbytery,  on  Sabbath  evening, 
December  29th,  1834." 

In  1832,  he  was  married  to  the  eldest  daughter  of 
Mr.  James  Adger,  of  Charleston,  S.  C.  By  this 
union  he  had  nine  children,  six  of  whom — three  sons 
and  three  daughters — survive  him.  The  bonds  of  this 
happy  alliance  were  sundered  after  a  lapse  of  forty 
years, by  his  decease  ;  but  not  until  after  he  had  enjoyed 
the  unspeakable  satisfaction  of  seeing  his  whole  family 
bound  together  by  those  higher  and  holier  ties  that 
can  never  be  broken,  of  seeing  all  his  children  con- 
secrating themselves  to  Christ,  under  his  own  minis- 
try, and  becoming  active  and  useful  members  of  his 
own  church,  two  of  the  eldest  sons  occupying  official 
positions — the  one,  a  ruling  elder  ;  the  other,  a  deacon. 

We  interrupt  our  narrative,  at  this  point,  as  the 
thread  of  biography  is  so  interwoven  with  his  public 
life,  that  to  consider  each  separately  would  do  violence 
to  both,  and  involve  needless  repetition. 

As  the  ministry  was  his  chosen  vocation,  to  which 
his  life  and  talents  were  supremely  devoted,  it  will  be 
proper,  in  analyzing  his  powers,  and  estimating  his 
influence  upon  the  generation  he  served,  to  contem- 
plate him,  in  the  first  place,  as  an  ambassador  of 
Christ,  in  his  ministerial  and  pastoral  labors. 

Dr.  Smyth  was  in  an  eminent  degree  furnished  by 
nature  and  mental  training,  with  those  qualities  which 


13 


render  the  ministry  brilliant  and  successful.  His 
erect  attitude,  lofty  carriage,  and  dignified  bearing, 
imparted  to  his  person  a  prepossessing  appearance, 
which  at  once  attracted  and  challenged  attention,  and 
made  the  impression  upon  his  audience,  that  they 
were  in  the  presence  of  a  princely  orator,  in  whom 
intelligence,  manliness,  self-reliance  and  courage,  were 
already  foreshadowing  the  surpassing  eloquence  that 
was  about  to  flow  from  his  lips.  To  borrow  the 
elegant  language  of  one  who  knew  him  thoroughly  : 
"  Nature  designed  him  to  be  an  orator,  and  endowed 
him  splendidly  for  that  office.  But  *  coveting  earnestly,' 
what  appeared  to  him,  '  the  best  gift,'  he  always 
seemed  to  aspire  to  speak  to  future  generations, 
rather  than  to  the  present ;  preferring  to  the  triumphs 
of  an  almost  matchless  eloquence,  the  toils  and  pains 
of  authorship."  Though  trained  in  the  highest  school 
of  eloquence,  his  oratory  was  not  of  a  professional 
or  mechanical  type.  He  had  learned  to  modulate  his 
tones  to  suit  every  variation  of  feeling,  but  without 
the  stiffness  and  formality,  which  so  often  attend  a 
carefully  cultivated  articulation.  This  dry  precision 
was,  indeed,  impossible  to  one  of  such  fervid  imagina- 
tion and  genial  sympathies. 

Dr.  Smyth  was  gifted  with  a  vigorous  and  brilliant 
imagination,  a  quick,  poetic  sensibility.  An  ardent 
admirer,  and  a  devoted  lover  of  nature,  he  had  a  keen 
perception  of  the  beautiful,  the  grand,  the  picturesque, 
in  all  her  varying  aspects.  It  has  excited  our  wonder, 
that  he  should  have  found  so  much  in  our  tame  and 
monotonous  scenery  to  feed  and  delight  his  imagina- 
tion.    But,  like  the  Poet  of  Rydal  Mount,  he  was 

*'  A  lover  of  the  meadows  and  the  woods, 
And  mountains  :    and  all  that  we  behold 


14 


From  the  green  earth ;   of  all  the  mighty  world 
Of  eye  and  ear,  both  what  they  half  create 
And  what  perceive  :  well  pleased  to  recognize 
In  nature  and  the  language  of  the  sense 
The  anchor  of  his  purest  thoughts,  the  nurse, 
The  guide,  the  guardian  of  his  heart,  and  soul 
Of  all  his  moral  being." 

During  his  vacations,  which  were  usually  spent 
amid  the  picturesque  scenery  of  Virginia,  he  almost 
lived  in  communion  with  nature;  finding  companion- 
ship in  every  flower  and  tree,  wind  and  wave,  cloud 
and  living  creature,  when  cut  off  from  the  society  of 
man. 

He  was  accustomed,  in  his  recreations  from  study, 
to  spend  some  portion  of  every  day  in  rural  medita- 
tion, in  the  suburbs  of  Charleston  ;  and,  sometimes, 
for  hours,  at  night,  he  sat  beneath  the  quiet  stars, 
looking  out  upon  the  moonlit  sea,  and  listening  to  its 
solemn  roar.  Thus,  every  object  of  nature  became 
to  him  a  bosom  friend,  "  social  and  benevolent," 
keeping  him  pleasant  company  in  his  solitary  hours, 
and  befriending  him  in  his  afflictions,  when  no  human 
heart  could  enter  the  sanctuary  of  his  grief;  "  finding 
too 

Like  him  who  Eden's  garden  dressed, 

His  maker  there  to  teach  his  listening  heart." 

His  capacious  memory  thus  became  a  gallery  of 
natural  imagery,  drawn  from  the  various  climes  he  had 
visited,  and  from  the  poets  of  nature  with  whom  he 
daily  communed.  From  this  inexhaustible  storehouse 
he  fed  his  exuberant  imagination,  and  adorned  his  ser- 
mons with  its  riches  and  magnificence.  His  style 
could  not  be  described  as  ornate  or  florid.  Nothing 
was  added  for  the  sake  of  rhetorical  embellishment,  or 


15 


to  round  a  period.  But  such  was  his  marvellous  afflu- 
ence of  diction,  his  thesaurus  of  language,  and  over- 
flowing fulness  of  ideas,  that  when  the  fountains  of  the 
great  deep  of  his  soul  were  broken  up,  and  the  win- 
dows of  his  mind,  like  the  bursting  cisterns  of  the 
skies,  were  opened,  his  thoughts  poured  forth  like  a 
deluge.  The  sequacious  waves  followed  one  another 
with  a  tumultuous  rush  and  unabating  flow,  that  must 
have  oppressed  and  fatigued  the  hearer,  but  for  the 
illuminating  splendor  of  his  ever-radiant  imagination. 

In  1845  he  attended  the  Synod  of  Indiana,  and  was 
invited  to  preach.  "  His  audience,"  says  a  journalist, 
"  were  so  struck  with  his  profound  reasoning,  his  fervor 
and  energy,  his  entire  freedom  from  ostentation,  and 
his  evident  sincerity,  that  their  demonstration  of 
respect  and  regard  were  enthusiastic.  His  co-laborers 
testified  their  high  gratification  by  purchasing  a  large 
number  of  his  works,  and  requesting  him  to  publish 
his  sermons."  His  discourse  on  the  Lord's  Supper 
"  was  pronounced,  by  the  clergy  present,  to  be  the 
ablest  exposition  of  the  text,  in  point  of  argument 
and  learning,  as  one  of  the  most  powerful  efforts  they 
had  ever  heard  from  the  pulpit." 

Dr.  Smyth  entered  upon  his  work  with  a  lofty  ideal 
of  ministerial  excellence,  laying  down  carefully  pre- 
pared rules  for  his  guidance,  and  frequently  reviewing 
them  with  a  searching  self-examination.  He  consid- 
ered it  his  "  great  business  to  be  a  good  and  faithful 
preacher,  and  his  most  necessary  duty,  to  fit  himself 
for  this  work,  to  be  a  systematic,  persevering  student." 
He  projected  for  himself,  at  the  outset,  a  regular  pro- 
gressive course  of  reading  ;  and  that  the  cultivation  of 
the  imagination  might  keep  pace  with  his  intellectual 
development,  he  always  had  on  his  table  some  stan- 


i6 


dard  book  of  poetry,  and  endeavored  to  cultivate  a 
taste  for  general  literature.  To  keep  himself  from 
"solicitude  and  possible  disappointment;  to  gain  a 
self-command  and  independence  equal  to  any  emer- 
gency/' he  kept  on  hand  a  stock  of  prepared  sermons 
and  skeletons.  Hence  he  was  never  embarrassed  when 
called  upon  suddenly  and  unexpectedly.  This  habit, 
explains  too,  in  part,  the  wonderful  fertility  of  his  ideas, 
the  copiousness  and  fluency  of  his  language,  and  his 
cool  self-possession.  It  could  hardly  be  said  of  him 
that  he  ever  spoke  without  premeditation  ;  for  upon 
what  subject  did  he  not  profoundly  meditate,  with  the 
aid  of  the  best  authors,  and  with  a  marvellously  reten- 
tive memory,  that  was  a  magazine  of  knowledge,  always 
full,  always  fresh,  and  always  at  his  command.  His 
extemporaneous  addresses  often  exhibited  the  fulness 
of  matter  and  excellence  of  style  which  characterized 
his  most  careful  preparations. 

During  the  greater  part  of  his  ministry,  his  sermons 
were  elaborately  composed,  and  preached  from  the 
written  manuscript.  This  greatly  interfered  with  his 
natural  flow  of  eloquence,  and  robbed  his  pulpit  of 
much  of  that  efficiency  which  comes  from  the  unction 
of  extemporaneous  delivery.  But  he  regarded  the 
sacrifice  as  essential  to  carry  out  his  ideal  of  pulpit 
instruction.  "  It  is  easier,"  he  said,  "to  talk  and  visit 
and  hunt  for  popularity,  than  to  dig  deep  in  the  mine 
of  a  thorough  and  careful  research,  and  thus  to  bring 
"beaten  oil"  into  the  sanctuary,  by  which  our 
profiting  may,  ultimately,  if  not  immediately,  appear 
to  all." 

It  was  one  of  his  rules,  that  he  would  aim  to  indoc  - 
trinate  his  people  by  regular  courses  of  sermons, 
expounding  the  whole  evangelical  system,  and  "  con- 


17 


firming  them  in  their  attachment  to  the  faith  and  order 
of  their  own  church." 

Dr.  Smyth  was  a  thorough  going  preacher  of  the  old 
school.  The  gospel  trumpet  in  his  mouth,  uttered  no 
uncertain  sound.  The  cup  of  salvation  in  his  hands, 
was  not  corrupted  by  the  "wine  of  Sodom,"  and  the 
"  grapes  of  Gomorrah."  The  basis  of  all  his  preaching 
was  a  sound  theology  of  a  thoroughly  Calvinistic  type. 
He  was  a  deep  student  of  divinity,  and  drank  to  the 
bottom  of  the  original  fountains.  Augustine,  Turretine, 
Calvin,  Howe,  Owen,  Chamock  and  Edwards,  were  the 
giants  in  whose  company  he  "  wrestled  against  the 
principalities  and  power"  of  error,  until  he  grew  mus- 
cular in  the  strife.  He  bravely  resisted  the  clamor  for 
popular  effusions,  and  sensational  preaching.  He  dared 
to  "declare  the  whole  counsel  of  God,"  in  precise, 
categorical,  dogmatic  statement,  in  profound  doctrinal 
discussion,  and  in  the  systematic  elucidation  of  every 
article  of  the  Christian  faith.  Dr.  Smyth  was  a  stan- 
dard-bearer. He  was  not  ashamed  of  his  confession 
of  faith  and  church  catechism,  or  of  the  Westminster 
Assembly  of  Divines.  He  labored  earnestly  to  make 
his  people  familiar  with  those  distinctive  doctrines, 
which  during  the  ages  of  theological  controversy,  and 
the  fires  of  persecution,  crystalized  into  the  grand, 
clear,  concise  formulas  which  seemed  to  him  to  em- 
body the  whole  "truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,"  so  far  as 
human  generalization  grasp  a  supernatural  revelation 
in  its  imperfect  deductions,  and  which  seemed  to  be 
settled  for  all  time.  No  one  ever  toiled  more  faithfully 
and  untiringly  to  transmit  this  precious  inheritance  to 
coming  generation. 

He  believed  that  the  most  rational  and  effective 

2 


i8 


method  of  preserving  sound  doctrine,  was  "by  bringing 
himself  and  his  people  to  relish  the  true  and  ancient 
scriptural  and  most  profitable  custom  of  expository 
preaching,"  His  memoranda  of  texts  and  subjects 
shows  how  fully  he  carried  out  this  method,  in  ex- 
pounding all  the  parables  and  miracles  ;  the  life,  per- 
son, and  work  of  Christ;  all  the  Psalms,  and  most  of 
the  Epistles,  particularly  the  Epistle  to  the  Romans, 
In  commendation  of  this  mode  of  preaching,  he  said  : 
*'  From  all  that  I  have  been  able  to  learn,  it  would  be 
the  general  testimony  of  my  people,  that  there  has 
been  more  interest,  profit  and  satisfaction,  in  my  ex- 
pository discourses,  which  I  delivered  extemporane- 
ously, from  the  use  only  of  a  skeleton,  than  in  my 
written  discourses,  upon  which  I  expended  all  my 
energies." 

We  should  mention,  in  this  connection,  as  one  of 
Dr.  Smyth's  distinguishing  characteristics,  that  he  was 
a  controversial  preacher.  He  was  a  bold  and  skillful 
defender,  as  well  as  an  able  and  successful  expounder 
of  the  truth.  While  he  "  held  fast  the  form  of  sound 
words,"  he  "  contended  earnestly  for  the  faith,"  which 
he  believed  had  *'  once  been  delivered  to  the  saints," 
He  was  born  a  soldier.  Like  Cyrus,  he  was  girded 
from  his  birth,  with  a  martial  spirit,  and  through  a 
discipline  of  suffering,  that  gave  him  a  deep,  experi- 
mental acquaintance  with  the  truth,  he  was  qualified  to 
"endure  hardness  as  a  good  soldier"  of  the  cross. 
He  would  have  been  a  terrible  foe,  had  he  espoused 
the  cause  of  error,  and  brought  all  his  talent,  learning 
and  courage  into  the  field  against,  instead  of  for  the 
Christian  faith.  But  grace  had  laid  her  hand  upon  him 
at  his  birth,  and  caused  him  to  be  a  leader  and  a  cham- 


19 


pion  in  the  cause  of  truth.  He  was  armed  by  nature 
and  by  grace  with  the  weapons  of  warfare,  and  provi- 
dentially furnished  with  an  inexhaustible  armory,  from 
which  he  could  draw  in  any  emergency.  He  was  never 
caught  without  his  arms  and  ammunition,  or  sleeping 
on  his  panoply.  The  first  tocsin  of  war  aroused  him, 
and  he  was  ready  to  attack  or  defend,  to  meet  the 
enemy  in  the  open  fie'd,  or  dislodge  him  from  his 
secret  ambush. 

If,  therefore,  his  earlier  ministrations  were  pervaded 
by  a  controversial  and  polemical  spirit,  it  was  because 
he  believed  the  age  demanded  Christian  warriors  to 
defend  the  evangelical  system,  especially  in  its 
Presbyterian  form,  from  the  bold  assaults  of  infidelity, 
the  perversions  of  its  professed  friends,  and  the  arro- 
gant assumptions  of  false  pretenders.  And  if  the 
times  made  it  necessary  to  lift  the  voice  of  stern 
remonstrance  and  earnest  protest  against  the  invasions 
of  falsehood  and  heresy,  whoshouldobeythesummons, 
but  they  whom  the  Master  has  qualified  to  lead  on  the 
sacramental  host  to  victory?  Who,  but  our  military 
heroes  who  have  the  strength  to  wield  the  "sword 
of  the  Spirit,"  courage  to  mount  the  batteries  of  the 
enemy,  sagacity  to  interpret  his  most  subtle  mancever- 
ings,  and  generalship  to  take  command  of  the  whole 
field.  This  intrepid  and  valiant  defender  of  the  faith 
felt  that  he  was  only  following  the  cloudy  pillar  that 
went  before  him,  and  obeying  the  divine  voice  that 
articulately  summoned  him  to  "  Go  forward !"  when 
the  camp  of  Israel  were  generally  faltering  in  the 
presence  of  the  mountains  and  the  sea,  and  the 
advancing  hosts  of  the  enemy.  He  certainly  was 
instrumental  in  doing  a  work,  which  would  not  have 
been  done  by  others;  either,  because  constitutionally 


20 


averse  to  warfare ;  or,  too  timid  and  self-distrustful 
to  grapple  with  a  dangerous  and  formidable  foe ; 
or,  too  indifferent  to  theological  doctrine,  to  appreciate 
the  importance  and  sublimity  of  the  contest;  or,  too 
indolent  in  their  temperament  to  contend  for  truth 
at  all. 

But  the  crowning  excellence  of  this  illustrious 
preacher,  the  chief  inspiration  of  his  eloquent  dis- 
courses, which  charmed  away  the  weariness,  that  his 
extreme  prolixity  would  otherwise  have  occasioned, 
was  his  absorbing  Imc  to  the  Saviour.  The  tongue  of 
the  preacher  was  kindled  with  a  live  coal  from  the 
altar  of  Calvary.  His  discourses  abounded  with 
doctrinal  discussion.  They  were  often  controversial, 
as  well  as  argumentative.  They  were  sometimes 
scholastic,  replete  with  erudition,  laying  a  severe  tax 
upon  the  understanding  of  the  hearer;  and  yet  his 
lecture  room  was  crowded,  overflowing,  with  interested 
and  enthusiastic  audiences,  to  listen  to  an  hour's  dis- 
cussion of  the  principles  of  Presbyterianism.  It  was 
not  the  intellect  that  towered  like  a  mountain,  nor 
the  imagination,  that  shone  like  the  sun,  but  the  heart, 
that  heaved  like  the  ocean  with  the  love  of  Jesus — 
that  caught  the  sympathy  of  his  hearers,  and  bore 
them  away  upon  its  rolling  waves.  Christ,  and  his 
cross,  were  all  his  theme.  He  presented  the  doctrine, 
as  the  mirror  of  Christ,  and  the  creed  as  a  breakwater, 
to  roll  back  the  tide  of  error,  that  would,  if  unchecked, 
sweep  away  the  cross,  and  its  sacrificial  victim.  He 
preached  Presbyterianism,  because  he  believed  that 
no  other  polity  preserved  in  its  integrity,  the  Calvin- 
istic  system,  and  no  other  system  does  full  honor  to 
"  Christ  and  him  crucified."  The  cross,  he  viewed, 
primarily,    as  a  manifestation  of    love,    rather  than 


21 


justice — love,  surmounting  the  obstacles  of  law  and 
justice.  We  have  heard  him  remark,  in  substance, 
that  justice  should  form  the  dark  background,  and 
love,  the  bright  foreground  of  Gospel  preaching; 
that  Sinai  should  stand  behind  Calvary,  and,  at  least, 
so  far  away,  that  the  thunders  of  the  law  shall  not 
drown  the  accents  of  mercy.  He  never  left  the  guilty, 
condemned  sinner,  at  the  bar  of  judgment,  or  on  the 
brink  of  hell ;  but  always  at  the  foot  of  the  cross,  or  at 
the  household  door,  within  the  sound  of  the  Saviour's 
inviting  voice,  and  the  Father's  extended  arms  of  love 
and  mercy.  He  could  not  preach,  without  pleading 
with  sinners.  He  could  not  reason  and  argue,  without 
pouring  out  his  heart  in  the  most  tender  and  melting 
expostulations.  His  great,  generous,  benevolent  heart 
was  strung  with  the  chords  of  love,  like  an  yEolian 
harp,  that  responds  to  the  gentlest  breath  that  passes 
over  it;  so  that,  whatever  theme  he  touched,  his 
heart  could  be  seen  vibrating  with  the  love  of  Jesus, 
in  the  moistened  eye,  the  trembling  utterance,  the 
tender  manner,  and  in  language,  in  which  all  the 
synonyms  of  love  seemed  to  flow  as  naturally  as 
waters  gush  from  a  fountain.  "Our  pulpits,"  he  said, 
"  may  glitter  with  the  beauties  of  learning  and 
eloquence  and  orthodoxy,  but  if  these  be  not  warmed 
with  love,  universal  love,  the  brilliancy  will  prove 
like  the  glitter  of  that  region,  where  all  is  chill  and 
dead." 

Another  element  of  the  success  of  his  preaching, 
was  its  remarkable  appropriateness,  its  studied  adapta- 
tion to  the  times  in  which  he  lived,  and  to  the  imme- 
diate wants  of  his  people.  No  public  event,  from 
which  he  could  draw  a  useful  lesson,  escaped  his  no- 
tice.    The  startling  providences  of  God  he  used,  with 


"1 


22 


great  power,  as  interpreters  of  the  divine  word,  and 
emphasizing  its  teachings.  No  spiritual  want  of  any 
member  of  his  congregation  was  overlooked.  He 
would  preach  a  series  of  discourses  to  relieve  a  single 
anxious  soul  of  doubt  or  distress.  He  would  lay 
aside  his  laborious  preparations  for  the  Sabbath,  near 
the  close  of  the  week,  to  adapt  his  preaching  to  any 
sudden  change  of  circumstances  of  a  public,  domes- 
tic, or  personal  character. 

But  we  cannot  leave  the  consideration  of  his  labors 
as  a  preacher,  without  adverting  to  his  zeal  in  the 
cause  of  Missions.  If  love  to  Jesus  was  his  crowning 
excellence,  his  missionary  spirit  was  the  crowning 
form  of  this  excellence.  If  the  former  furnished  the 
material,  the  latter  determined  the  position  and  shape 
of  the  crown.  No  theme  so  absorbed  his  large,  ex- 
pansive heart,  or  developed,  and  exalted  the  mighty 
forces  of  his  intellect,  as  that  of  Missions.  The  most 
exalted  title  that  can  be  applied  to  Christians,  in  his 
estimation,  is  "  Christ's  representatives  and  agents  for 
the  conversion  of  the  world ;"  the  most  essential 
element  of  "  Christian  character  and  happiness, 
self-denying  love  and  liberality."  "  The  Gospel  "  he 
remarked,  in  his  eloquent  discourse  upon  the  above 
theme,  "  is  the  expression  of  God's  love,  and  the 
believer  is  a  man,  who,  filled  with  Heaven's  emanating 
kindness,  becomes,  in  turn,  a  living  Gospel."  When  a 
student  of  Highbury  College,  pursuing  his  theological 
studies,  he  was  expecting  to  enter  the  missionary 
field,  under  the  auspices  of  the  London  Missionary 
Society,  but  was  disappointed  by  the  failure  of 
his  health,  and  removal  to  this  country.  Resum- 
ing his  studies  at  Princeton,  N.  J.,  he  was  on  the  point 


23 


of  making  a  missionary  tour  to  Florida,  in  company 
with  some  fellow-student,  when  he  received  an  invita- 
tion to  supply  your  vacant  pulpit.  He  seemed  to  have 
dedicated  himself  to  this  great  work,  and  probably 
nothing  but  ill  health  would  have  deterred  him 
from  planting  the  standard  of  the  cross  on  heathen 
shores.  He  was,  for  many  years,  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Foreign  Missions,  in  the  Synod  of  South 
Carolina,  and,  doubtless  exerted  a  more  direct  and 
extensive  influence,  in  awakening  and  diffusing  a 
missionary  spirit  than  any  other  minister  in  our  Church. 
No  one  preached  so  much,  and  wrote  so  much  on  the 
subject  of  missions.  It  was  during  his  able  and  zealous 
discharge  of  the  duties  of  this  office,  that  he  prepared 
those  soul-stirring  missionary  discourses,  entitled : 
^^  The  Conversion  of  the  World;  ''Faith,  the  Priyiciple 
of  Missions,''  and  "  Obedience,  the  Life  of  Missions;'' 
which  were  preached  before  the  Synod,  and  pub- 
lished by  their  order.  We  know  of  no  pastor 
who  did  so  much  to  infuse  his  own  burning  enthusi- 
asm into  the  hearts  of  his  people.  His  missionary 
lectures  were  among  his  most  elaborate  preparations. 
Every  means  was  exhausted  to  make  the  monthly 
concert  for  missions  an  interesting  and  profitable 
exercise. 

He  preached  and  published  several  earnest  dis- 
courses or  "  jfuvenile  Missionary  Effort!'  He  regarded 
it  "  as  one  of  the  most  hopeful  signs  of  the  time — the 
attention  paid  to  children,  and  the  increasing  efforts 
made  to  educate  them  in  a  missionary  spirit,  and  for 
missionary  effort."  He  argued  that,  as  a  missionary 
spirit  is  the  most  essential  characteristic  of  Christianity, 
and  as  baptized  children  are  members  of  the  visible 
Church,  and  ought  to  be  educated   as    Christians ; 


24 


therefore,  they  should  be  taught  to  pray,  to  give,  and 
labor,  in  their  humble  way,  for  the  cause  of  missions. 
As  early  as  1 832,  he  organized  a  Juvenile  Missionary 
Society,  in  connection  with  his  church,  which  was 
held  quarterly;  and  in  the  same  year  he  commenced 
the  publication  of  a  Juvenile  Missionary  Paper.  His 
missionary  zeal  burned  on  a  brighter,  warmer  flame, 
as  the  smoking  flax  of  life  sunk  into  its  socket. 
Always  present,  at  the  monthly  concert,  in  the  most 
inclement  weather,  his  stammering  tongue  glowed 
with  the  eloquence  of  former  years,when  he  poured  out 
his  heart  in  prayer,  or  plead  for  a  perishing  world,  and 
for  the  glory  of  the  Redeemer.  He  was  accustomed 
to  say  that  the  monthly  "  Missionary  "  possessed,  for 
him,  the  interest  of  a  novel  or  romance,  and  that  he 
felt  reluctant  to  lay  it  down  until  he  had  read  the  last 
page.  We  here  discover  the  secret  of  this  man's 
greatness,  energy,  and  self-sacrificing  devotion  in 
every  department  of  Christian  labor — the  reflex  influ- 
ence of  his  missionary  spirit.  His  mind  and  heart  were 
in  living,  active,  unceasing  sympathy  with  a  lost 
world,  with  its  teeming  populations,  and  unborn  mil- 
lions ;  with  the  eternal  purpose  of  God,  that  "ail  flesh 
shall  see  "  the  Great  Salvation ;  with  all  the  glowing 
predictions  of  the  Hebrew  Prophet;  with  the  ever- 
lasting kingdom  of  Messiah  ;  with  the  suffering  Son  of 
God  in  the  travail  of  His  soul  ;  with  the  great  cloud 
of  witnesses,  who,  through  faith  and  obedience  have 
inherited  the  promises  ;  with  the  sacrifice  and  self- 
denial  of  missionaries  of  the  Cross,  and  all  "  Christ's 
martyred  clan;"  and  with  the  dawning  millenium,  when 
the  sun  of  Righteousness  shall  flood  the  hemispheres 
with  his  life-giving  beams,  and  the  whole  world  shall 
be  given  to  Christ. 


25 


The  soul  that  Hves  amid  these  grand  and  subHme 
realities,  whose  faith  gives  them  a  present  subsistence, 
whose  love  expands  until  it  circumscribes  the  globe — 
such  a  soul  must  grow  great.  It  feeds  upon  the 
elements  of  greatness,  and  wherever  its  energies  are 
expended,  at  home  or  abroad,  in  the  lecture  room,  in 
the  sanctuary,  on  the  platform,  or  in  the  deliberative 
assembly,  they  will  exhibit  something  of  the  grandeur 
and  sublimity  of  the  missionary  theme.  It  was  this 
spirit  which  gave  to  Dr.  Smyth  the  reputation  he  so 
generally  and  deservedly  bore,  of  being  a  '*  working 
pastor  of  a  working  church." 

Passing  from  the  pulpit  to  his  household  ministra- 
tions, we  follow  him  to  the  homes  of  his  people,  and 
we  are  as  much  impressed  with  the  fidelity  and  ten- 
derness of  the  pastor,  as  with  the  ability  and  power 
of  the  preacher.  He  regarded  his  church  as  a  family, 
and  watched  over  it  with  a  paternal  care  and  solici- 
tude. This  great  and  good  shepherd  knew  all  his 
flock,  and  could  call  them  all  by  name;  and  he 
entered,  by  a  personal  and  heartfelt  sympathy,  into  all 
their  temporal  and  spiritual  trials.  He  was,  as  a  pastor, 
no  respecter  of  persons,  and  showed  no  partiality 
save  that  which  is  imperatively  demanded  by  the  poor, 
the  lowly,  and  the  ignorant  of  his  flock.  He  wrote, 
in  his  diary,  at  the  beginning  of  his  ministry,  that  he 
"determined  to  discharge  the  duties  of  the  pastoral 
office  without  the  fear,  or  favor  of  any  individual  or 
family,  excepting  as  capacity  and  character  justly 
demanded  special  consideration." 

He  was  a  frequent  visitor  to  the  lowly  dwellings  of 
the  poor,  and  many  a  desolate  home  was  gladdened 
by  his  soothing  and  healing  charities,  to  use  their  own 
language,  "  as  by  the  visits  of  an  angel."    The  touching 


26 


and  eloquent  tribute  of  Dr.  Chalmers  to  the  pastoral 
fidelity  of  Andrew  Thompson,  might  be  quoted 
here,  and  applied  in  all  the  fulness  of  its  meaning  to 
the  subject  of  this  memoir :  "  As  at  the  base  of 
some  lofty  precipice,  a  spot  of  verdure,  or  a  peaceful 
cottage-home  seems  to  smile  in  more  intense  loveliness 
because  of  the  towering  strength  and  magnificence 
behind  it ;  so  the  man  of  strength  shows  himself 
the  man  of  tenderness,  and,  sturdy  and  impregnable 
in  every  righteous  cause  he  makes  his  graceful 
descent  to  the  ordinary  companionships  of  life,  and 
mingles,  with  kindred  warmth,  in  all  the  cares  and 
sympathies  of  his  fellow-men." 

It  was  in  the  family  circle,  that  he  exhibited  that 
rare  gift  of  prayer,  which  was  at  once  an  opulent 
endowment  of  nature  and  of  grace.  Naturally  of  a 
devotional  turn  of  mind,  all  the  resources  of  his 
intellect  and  heart,  all  the  affluent  treasures  of  his 
knowledge,  and  all  the  precious  riches  of  his  religious 
experience,  varied  and  amplified  by  peculiar  sufferings 
and  trials ;  all  were  baptized  by  the  spirit  of  prayer, 
and  poured  out  in  the  channels  of  supplication,  both 
in  the  pulpit  and  in  the  household  ;  and  in  both,  alike, 
did  he  seem  to  identify  himself  with  his  people,  and 
make  their  manifold  experience  his  own.  Every- 
thing with  him  seemed  to  crystalize  into  prayer. 
Every  vicissitude  of  the  weather,  and  every  changing 
aspect  of  the  times ;  the  smallest  as  well  as  the 
greatest  events,  furnished  him  with  material  for  devo- 
tion, and  imparted  an  endless  variety,  an  inexhaustible 
copiousness,  and  an  exceeding  richness  to  his  prayers. 

His  extraordinary  conversational  powers  and  social 
qualities,  eminently  fitted  him  for  pastoral  usefulness. 
With  all  his  absorbing  love  of  study,  his  sympathies 


27 


took  a  deeper  hold  upon  men,  than  upon  books,  and 
nothing  gave  him  more  genuine  delight  and  satisfaction 
than  to  communicate  the  treasures  of  his  learning  to 
the  humblest  listener.  It  was  here,  also,  that  his  ready 
wit,  and  genial  humor  found  an  easy,  and  a  happy 
vent,  in  interesting  and  instructive  anecdotes,  and 
personal  reminiscences,  of  which  he  had  gathered 
a  vast  store,  in  his  extensive  reading  and  foreign 
travels. 

His  genial  and  exuberant  nature  overflowed  on  all 
occasions,  even  when  greatly  depressed,  and  tortured 
with  pain.  He  was  often  most  companionable  and 
entertaining  when  his  sufferings  were  greatest.  Nor 
did  he  ever  regard  his  bodily  infirmities  and  weaknesses 
as  an  excuse  for  pastoral  inactivity,  but  seemed  to 
forget  his  own  sorrow  in  bearing  the  burdens  of  others. 

It  was  another  of  his  rules  that  pastoral  visitation 
should  be  performed  as  regularly  and  systematically 
as  was  consistent  with  his  pulpit  preparations,  which  he 
always  considered  as  of  the  first  importance.  Nothing 
in  his  estimation  could  compensate  for  a  poorly 
prepared  sermon.  "  I  have  always  considered  preach- 
ing," he  said,  "and  what  is  necessary  to  a  right 
preparation  for  preaching,  as  prior  in  its  claims  upon 
my  time,  and  attention,  to  visiting,  or  any  other  duty." 
Later  in  life,  however,  he  confessed  that  he  had  erred 
somewhat,  in  regard  to  the  comparative  results  of 
pulpit  and  pastoral  labor,  and  that  he  had  possibly, 
unduly  exalted  the  former.  But,  whatever  may  have 
been  his  views  of  pastoral  duty,  its  apparent  neglect, 
in  the  earlier  part  of  his  ministry,  finds  its  vindication 
in  the  claims  of  authorship,  which  at  that  period, 
were  urged  upon  his  conscience  with  a  force  that  he 
could  not  resist. 


28 


As  a  pastor,  he  embraced  with  avidity  every  oppor- 
tunity to  press  the  claims  of  Christ  upon  every 
individual  of  his  congregation.  If  he  erred  here,  it 
was  an  error  of  the  judgment,  not  of  the  heart,  which 
under  the  restraining  influence  of  love  to  Jesus,  and 
love  to  the  souls  of  men,  led  him,  like  Paul,  "to 
warn  men  day  and  night,  and  with  tears."  A  burning 
zeal  for  the  salvation  of  souls  may  betray  a  minister 
into  injudicious  and  unreasonable  appeals,  but,  in  the 
day  of  judgment,  God's  faithful  servants  Vv^ill  have 
occasion  to  rejoice  that  they  are  free  from  the  blood 
of  all  men,  and  that  imprudent  measures  were  better 
than  lukewarm  indifference,  or  cold-hearted  neglect. 

Both  as  a  preacher,  and  as  a  pastor,  Dr.  Smyth 
ever  felt  and  manifested  a  deep  and  affectionate 
interest  in  the  colored  people,  who  filled  the  gallery  of 
his  Church,  and  largely  composed  his  membership. 
He  prepared  his  sermons  with  reference  to  their 
instruction,  held  a  special  service  for  them  during  the 
week,  and  as  a  pastor,  kindly  ministered  to  their 
spiritual  wants,  and  bore  to  their  humble  homes  the 
cup  of  consolation  in  seasons  of  sickness  and  afflic- 
tion. He  was  a  warm  supporter  of  the  Zion  Colored 
Church,  in  Calhoun  street,  Charleston,  which  at  its 
inception  was  chiefly  composed  of  members  of  his 
own  Church.  He  spoke  of  it  as  "  a  noble  and  glori- 
ous enterprise  in  which  he  heartily  rejoiced."  The 
crowd  of  colored  people  who  attended  his  funeral 
attested  their  continued  and  unabated  love  for  him. 
One  aged  woman  exclaimed,  as  his  coffin  was  borne 
into  the  Church,  with  streaming  eyes  and  choked 
utterance  :  "  Go  to  Jesus,  faithful  preacher  !  " 

But  our  portraiture  of  the  pastor  would  be  incom- 
plete, were  we  to  omit  his  tender,  passionate  fondness 


29 


for  the  children  of  his  congregation,  and  his  zealous 
interest  in  their  welfare.  He  enjoyed,  with  a  keen 
relish,  the  sports  of  childhood  around  his  own  fireside, 
and  heartily  participated  in  their  juvenile  merriment. 
He  gathered  the  children  around  him,  in  his  visits  from 
house  to  house,  and  by  his  gentle  and  affable 
familiarity,  won  their  hearts.  Their  names  were  all 
engraven  on  his  heart,  as  well  as  his  memory,  and 
they  knew  it.  No  one  was,  to  these  little  ones,  a 
more  welcome  guest  at  the  family  fireside.  They 
ran  to  meet  him,  at  the  open  door,  and  followed  him, 
regretfully,  as  he  took  his  departure. 

His  frequent  presence  at  the  Sabbath  School  excited 
their  eager  and  delighted  attention.  He  always  remem- 
bered the  lambs  of  his  flock  in  his  study,  and  was 
constantly  collecting  materials  from  every  source, 
that  he  might  be  ever  prepared  to  interest  them  in 
the  Sabbath  School,  and  on  anniversary  occasions, 
with  appropriate  and  pleasing  addresses.  The  painful 
sacrifices  which  he  made  to  attend  the  last  annual 
festival,  and  the  evident  delight  with  which  he  entered 
into  their  youthful  pleasures,  will  never  be  forgotten 
by  the  children.  It  will  linger  in  their  memories,  as 
they  advance  in  years,  as  one  of  the  last  affecting 
tokens  of  their  aged  and  infirm  Pastor  to  the  dear 
lambs  of  his  fold. 

The  affection  which  he  felt  for  the  children  of  his 
own  Church,  was  shared,  in  all  its  depth  and  tender- 
ness, by  the  children  of  the  Orphan  House.  He 
always  delighted  to  officiate,  in  his  turn,  in  the  Chapel 
of  that  Institution,  and  by  his  condescending  manner, 
his  affectionate  earnestness,  and  his  happy  art  of 
illustration,  rivetted  their  attention  and  gained  their 
hearts.     Numbers  of  them  gathered  around  his  casket. 


30 


as  it  was  about  to  be  lowered  in  the  grave,  and 
covered  it  with  wreaths  of  flowers. 

As  an  ecclesiastic.  Dr.  Smyth  was  thoroughly  quali- 
fied to  be  a  leader  in  the  courts  and  councils  of  the 
Church.  Dr.  R.  Breckenridge  said  of  him,  that  "  no 
one  was  better  versed  in  our  Church  polity."  What- 
ever has  been  written  on  the  subject  of  Church  Order 
he  had  read,  and  he,  probably,  had  access  to  more 
numerous  sources  of  information  than  any  of  his 
cotemporaries  in  this  country.  He  was  perfectly 
familiar  with  the  whole  history  of  the  ecclesiastical 
controversy,  and  had  thoroughly  studied  the  consti- 
tution of  his  own  Church.  He  had  traced  up  the 
principles  of  Presbyterianism,  through  all  the  tangled 
wilderness  of  controversy,  to  their  original  source,  in 
the  Word  of  God,  and  followed  the  historic  course  of 
the  mighty  River,  in  its  sublime  and  steady  flow  down 
the  ages,  sending  out  its  tributaries  in  all  directions — 
streams  that  "  make  glad,"  not  only  "the  City  of  our 
God,"  but  bless  the  whole  social  and  political  world, 
with  the  principles  of  civil  and  religious  freedom. 

On  the  floor  of  our  deliberative  assemblies,  Dr. 
Smyth  had  but  few  equals,  as  a  debater,  and  nowhere 
did  his  master-spirit  so  exhibit  the  fulness  of  its 
intellectual  energy,  and  overpowering  eloquence.  It 
was  remarked  by  one  who  knew  him  intimately,  and 
as  a  co-laborer,  in  his  palmy  days,  "  that  he  was  not 
so  great  in  the  Pulpit,  where  he  generally  read  his 
sermons,  as  he  was  in  the  Lecture-room  ;  nor  was  he 
so  great  in  the  Lecture-room,  as  he  was  on  the 
Platform ;  nor  was  he  so  great  upon  the  Platform,  as 
he  was  on  the  floor  of  the  Deliberative  Assembly ; 
nor  was  he  so  great  on  the  floor  of  the  Deliberative 
Assembly,  when  he  was  on  the  strong  side,  as  when 


31 


he  was  on  the  weak  one.  But,  in  reply,  and  for  a 
lost  cause  as  it  seemed,  and  when  there  was  no  hope 
for  his  side  apparently,  then  was  Dr.  Smyth  strong, 
and  then  was  he  dangerous  to  his  opponent." 

This  is  substantially  the  testimony  of  all  who 
encountered  him  in  the  halls  of  debate,  and  who 
attempted  to  resist  the  tide  of  his  forensic  eloquence. 

As  a  churchman,  Dr.  Smyth  might  be  described  as 
intensely  denominational,  and  intensely  unsectarian. 
This  distinction,  so  admirably  drawn  in  his  memorable 
discourse  on  "  Denominational  Education,"  was  so 
gratifying  to  Dr.  Chalmers,  who  heard  him  deliver  it, 
that  he  afterwards  remarked,  that  "  he  could  never 
cease  talking  about  it."  A  loyal  son  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  he  loved  her  denominational  peculiar- 
ities with  a  patriotic  fervor.  But  while  he  cherished 
her  glorious  history  and  precious  traditions,  with  an 
almost  idolatrous  reverence,  he  was,  at  the  same  time, 
an  utter  stranger  to  the  narrow-mindedness  of  party, 
or  the  exclusiveness  of  bigotry.  The  Apostolic 
benediction,  "  Grace  be  with  all  those  who  love  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  sincerity,"  was  inscribed  upon 
his  Church  Banner.  "  Let  brotherly  love  continue," 
was  his  motto.  In  his  chapter  on  the  *'  Catholicity  of 
Presbytery,"  he  remarks,  •'  Christ  must  be  first, 
fellowship  next,  and  then  as  much  uniformity  as  will 
follow  from  the  two."  Of  naturally  a  Catholic  spirit, 
the  liberalizing  influence  of  a  wide  culture,  and 
extensive  travel  led  him  to  recoil  from  all  extreme 
views  of  doctrine  or  Church  polity.  He  was  never 
happier  than  when  he  united  with  brethren  of  other 
denominations  in  Christian  fellowship,  and  associated 
activity,  and  had  he  lived,  he  would  have  entered 
heart    and    soul    into   the    Evansrelical   Alliance — a 


32 


movement  of  which  he  spoke  with  great  enthusiasm, 
and  for  the  success  of  which  he  fervently  prayed. 
One  object  he  had  in  view,  in  visiting  Europe  in  1846, 
was  to  be  present  at  the  Evangelical  Alliance,  at  its 
first  great  World  meeting,  "  when  the  platform,  creed 
and  basis  of  union  was  discussed  and  adopted,"  he 
remarked,  "  I  was  truly  delighted  to  find  how  patriotic 
feeling  extinguished  all  sectional  jealousies,  and  united 
various  denominations  in  one  compact,  solid  phalanx." 

It  was  to  him,  one  of  the  glorious  features  of 
Presbyterianism,  as  an  Ecclesiastical  system,  that  it 
was  "at  once  capable  of  extension  to  the  widest 
circumference  of  humanity,  and  contains  within  itself 
the  germinant  principles  of  vitality,  diffusion,  unity, 
universality."  Under  the  term  Presbytery,  he  was  wont 
to  "include  those  generic  principles  which  are  com- 
mon to  Congregationalists,  Presbyterians,  Reformed 
Dutch,  Lutherans,  Baptists  and  Methodists,"  and 
rejoice  that,  while  he  differed  from  them  in  some 
points,  "  he  would  be  found  agreeing  with  the  liberal- 
minded  of  them  all."  He  would  thus  hope  "to  draw 
closer  the  bonds  of  Christian  truth,  harmony  and 
affection,  by  which  we  are  leagued  together." 

It  was  for  this  liberal,  Catholic  type  of  Presbyte- 
rianism that  he  contended,  toiled,  suffered,  and 
consecrated  all  his  talents  and  acquisitions.  He 
strenuously  opposed  the  "Revised  Book  of  Discipline," 
because  he  honestly  believed  that  it  was  susceptible  of  . 
an  interpretation  subversive  of  these  grand  princi- 
ples. According  to  his  view,  Presbyterianism  was 
Jure  divino  in  this  sense,"  that  the  doctrines  of  the 
Church  are  given  by  Christ  in  inspired  words  ;  the 
government,  in  general  rules  and  principles,  in  the 
actions  and   examples  of  the   Apostles,  and  in  the 


33 


exercise  of  a  wise,  Christian  expediency,  based  on 
natural  and  social  law,  as  expressly  declared  in  the 
confession  of  faith.  The  one  is  given  to  us  as  a  system 
of  doctrine  taught  in  the  scriptures  ;  the  other,  as 
agreeable  to  Scripture,  and  yet  both  de  jure  divino.'^ 
He  believed  that  the  "Revised  Rules"  virtually  iden- 
tified the  form  of  Government,  Discipline  and  Worship^ 
with  Doctrine,  and  claimed  for  them  the  same  con- 
scientious belief  and  conformity,  which  "  tend  to  make 
Presbyterianism  High  Church,  intolerant  and  illiberal, 
robbing  it  of  its  crown-jewels,  love,  charity,  and 
brotherly  kindness,  towards  all  Evangelical  Churches, 
who  hold  Christ  in  all  his  glorious  divine  offices, 
as  Prophet,  Priest,  and  King  of  his  blood-bought 
people."  The  Scriptures,  and  not  Church  stan- 
dards, are  the  ultimate  appeal  in  all  matters  of  con- 
troversy. 

The  revision  movement  roused  all  his  old  martial 
spirit.  The  veteran  warrior,  girded  on  his  armor, 
and  through  many  a  long  and  weary  night,  in  the 
midst  of  sufferings,  that  would  have  unmanned  a 
spirit  of  ordinary  mold,  he  prepared  a  series  of  ar- 
ticles, in  which  the  dying  Hercules  seemed  to  be 
gathering  up  all  his  remaining  strength  to  strike  one 
more  effectual  blow  for  the  principles  for  which  he 
had  contended  all  his  life.  He  would  not  have  felt 
that  he  had  "  finished  his  course,  and  kept  the  faith," 
had  he  remained  silent  during  this  controversy,  even 
on  the  verge  of  the  grave.  The  scarred  and  weather- 
beaten  soldier  fell  on  the  field  of  battle,  with  his 
armor  on  and  with  his  drawn  sword  in  his  hand. 

On  another  occasion,  pending  a  heated  discussion 
upon  this  theme   in  Presbytery,  when  a  motion  was 
made  to  adjourn  on  account   of  his  failing  strength, 
3 


34 


he  replied,  with  his  panting  breath,  that  he  was 
willing  to  go  on,  he  could  not  die  in  a  better  cause. 

At  the  time  of  the  great  disruption,  in  1843,  Dr. 
Smyth  urged,  with  a  glowing  zeal  and  eloquence,  the 
claims  of  the  Free  Church  of  Scotland,  to  the 
sympathy  of  American  Christians.  It  was  for  these 
very  principles,  so  dear  to  his  heart,  that  the  Church 
of  Scotland  separated  from  the  Establishment,  viz : 
"the  utter  renunciation  of  all  the  bigoted  and  exclusive 
views  which  prevented  free  intercourse  among  true- 
hearted  Christians  of  every  name."  He  saw  in  the 
foundation  of  that  Church,  "  the  first  link  in  the  golden 
chain  which  is  to  bind  together  in  one  body  all  who 
love  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  sincerity  and  truth." 

It  is  of  such  sound  and  Catholic  principles  as  these, 
that  the  large-hearted  pJiilayithropist,  and  the  sturdy 
reformer  are  made  ;  and  such  was  Dr.  Smyth.  He 
entered  with  a  cordial,  active  sympathy,  into  every 
great,  social  and  moral  movement,  looking  to  the 
elevation  of  mankind.  He  had  a  quick,  sensitive  ear 
to  the  "  sad  footsteps  of  humanity."  Like  his  Master, 
he  identified  himself  with  the  poor,  the  miserable,  the 
unfortunate,  the  outcast  everywhere.  One  prominent 
element  of  his  missionary  zeal  was  his  hearty  love  of 
man ;  for  the  love  of  Christ  develops  a  genuine 
philanthropy,  a  world-wide  charity,  a  heart-felt  desire 
to  "  do  good  to  all  men,  as  we  have  opportunity  ;  " 
or,  as  he,  himself,  expressed  it,  a  true  Christian  is  "  a 
holy  beneficent  presence  in  society ;  a  sick  world's 
healer ;  a  sad  world's  comforter ;  a  sympathizer  and 
a  worker  with  the  Supreme  Beneficence." 

He  was  an  active,  efficient  member  of  the  Bible 
Society.  He  advocated  the  claims  of  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association,  with  great  earnestness, 


35 


as  promoting  the  "  communion  of  citizenship,  the 
brotherhood  of  Christianity,  and  the  cause  of  Christ- 
ian philanthropy."  He  was  deeply  interested  in  the 
Orphan  House,  which  he  regarded  as  a  noble,  Christ- 
ian charity,  "  as  representing  the  benignity  of  heaven, 
in  its  parental  care  for  the  fatherless,  and  a  bond  of 
union  between  the  rich  and  poor."  The  cause  of 
education  found  in  him  a  staunch  and  enthusiastic 
supporter,  and  an  eloquent  advocate. 

It  was  in  the  spirit  of  a  Christian  philanthropist 
that  he  cordially  favored  and  zealously  defended  the 
institution  of  slavery,  for  "however  it  may  be  de- 
nounced as  imperfect  and  attended  with  evil,"  he  held 
that  *'  it  had  been  employed  by  unerring  wisdom 
and  an  overruling  Providence,  as  an  instrument  for 
the  preservation,  elevation,  and  conversion  of  millions 
who  would  have  lived  and  died  in  heathen  ignorance, 
superstition  and  cruelty."  He  believed  that  in  so 
far  as  masters  rendered  unto  their  slaves  that  which 
is  "just  and  equal,"  in  their  condition  and  sphere  of 
life,  that  involuntary  servitude  was  for  them  that  which 
is  best  fitted  to  promote  their  well-being  and  happiness. 
But  while  all  his  learning  and  ability  were  enlisted  on 
the  side  of  slavery,  he  was  equally  earnest  and  bold  in 
denouncing  the  unnecessary  evils,  and  reforming  the 
abuses  and  perversions  of  that  domestic  institution  : 
His  celebrated  work  on  the  "  Unity  of  the  Human 
Races"  was  written  in  the  interests  of  philanthropy,  as 
well  as  science  and  religion.  The  denial  of  unity  he 
regarded  as  uncharitable,  as  it  is  unphilosophical.  To 
degrade  the  African  below  the  standard  of  the  human 
species,  is  to  exclude  him  from  the  benefits  of  redemp- 
tion, and  justify  his  barbarous  and  cruel  treatment. 
The  critical  reviewers  of  England,  Scotland,  and  Ire- 


36 


land,  gave  him  the  credit  of  being  "  the  first  to  come 
forward  in  this  controversy,  to  assert,  in  behalf  of  the 
black  man  the  unity  of  the  race,"  and  commended  his 
"  fearless  vindication  of  this  doctrine,  in  the  midst  of  a 
slave  population,  which  was  calculated  to  render  him 
unpopular  and  odious." 

He  exhibited  the  same  bold,  uncompromising  spirit 
of  the  Reformer,  in  his  public,  out-spoken  denuncia- 
tions of  the  stage,  the  lottery,  and  every  evil  which  he 
regarded  as  detrimental  to  the  peace  and  order  of 
society. 

Dr.  Smyth  was  too  sound  a  Presbyterian,  to  be 
anything  but  a  whole-souled  Patriot^  when  patriotism 
involves  the  spirit  of  loyalty  to  the  principles  of  true 
Republicanism,  and  a  readiness  to  defend  them  at  any 
sacrifice.  It  was  because  he  believed  the  principles 
of  our  constitutional,  representative,  republican  gov- 
ernment, were  derived  from  Presbyterianism,  and  are 
the  only  safeguards  of  civil  and  religious  liberty,  that 
he  became,  in  this  land  of  his  adoption,  an  enthusiastic, 
patriotic,  American  citizen.  He  wrote  a  volume  of 
several  hundred  pages,  the  result  of  weary  months  of 
laborious  study  and  research,  to  demonstrate  the 
identity  of  the  origin  of  our  ecclesiastical,  and  civil 
government.  I  use  his  own  language:  "  The  more 
decidedly  a  man  is  a  Presbyterian,  the  more  decidedly 
he  is  a  republican."  He  espoused  the  cause  of  the 
South  in  the  late  war,  because  he  believed  she  was 
contending  for  these  very  principles  of  civil  liberty 
and  free  government. 

A  few  months  previous  to  the  outbreak  of  the  war, 
he  lamented  the  prospect  of  disunion  in  language 
like  this :  "  When  I  was  a  child  upon  my  mother's 
knee,  I  heard  thy  praises,  my  adopted  country.     In 


37 


my  childhood's  visions  thine  image  rose  proudly 
magnificent  before  me,  towering  aloft  to  heaven,  and 
spreading  thy  branches  over  the  seas.  Boyhood's 
sports  were  jubilant  of  thee,  and  manhood  brought 
with  it  eager  expectations  of  becoming  inseparably 
thine.  Here,  for  thirty  years,  I  have  heard  from 
every  lip,  on  every  festive  occasion,  thy  praises.  And 
must  we  take  up  the  lamentation  and  say,  from  this 
glorious  constitutional  union  all  the  beauty  is  de- 
parted ?  For  these  things  I  weep,  and  my  soul  is 
troubled."  As  he  thus  poured  out  his  unavailing 
tears,  he  was  ready  to  pour  out  the  last  drop  of  his 
blood,  to  preserve  the  inestimable  blessings  of  repub- 
lican liberty,  which  he  felt  were  at  stake.  "  He,  who 
would  choose  life  at  such  a  sacrifice,"  said  he,  "  is  not 
worthy  of  life,  or  fit  to  die."  Dr.  Smyth  was  a  true 
Christian  patriot,  believing  that  his  country  was  a 
union  of  States,  not  a  union  of  people. 

Dr.  Smyth  was  also  a  voluminous  and  learned 
author,dind  has  left  to  the  world,  the  *' life-blood  of 
his  master-spirit,"  in  many  a  page  and  many  a  volume 
which  will  be  read  with  profit  for  many  a  generation. 

It  has  doubtless  been  a  matter  of  surprise  with 
many,  that  one  who  was  called  to  take  the  oversight 
of  a  large  and  laborious  pastoral  charge,  could  justify 
himself  in  consuming  so  much  time  and  strength  in 
the  distracting  cares,  and  exhausting  toils  of  author- 
ship. 

In  his  unpublished  writings,  we  find  an  "  Apology 
for  Authorship,"  which  furnishes  a  complete  vindi- 
cation of  his  course  from  all  suspicion  of  literary 
vanity  or  ambition.  He  entered  upon  this  painful, 
laborious,  and  self-sacrificing  work,  as  a  faithful 
steward  of  the  manifold  gifts  of  God,  who  desired  to 


38 


make  the  most  of  his  abilities  and  opportunities. 
But  upon  this  point  we  will  allow  him  to  speak  for 
himself:  "  I  believe  that  capacity  to  do,  brings  with  it 
the  consciousness  of  its  own  impelling  energy,  deter- 
mination, and  will ;  and  that  when  the  heart  is  sanc- 
tified and  set  right,  this  consciousness  brings  with  it 
a  corresponding  sense  of  responsibility  to  put  his 
talents  out  to  usury,  and  to  the  very  best  advantage. 
I  believe,  also,  that  with  such  conscious  ability  and 
responsibility  to  do,  there  is  a  proportionate  sense  of 
"  Woe  is  me,  if  I  do  not,"  of  humility  in  view  of 
what  is  done,  and  of  much  that  is  not  done.  A  man 
must  know  that  he  can  do,  and  what  he  can  do,  and 
all  he  can  do,  and  to  have  confidence  in  undertaking, 
boldness  in  execution,  self-approval  in  having  en- 
deavored to  do  his  duty,  and  self-condemnation,  if  he, 
through  the  fear  or  favor  of  men,  fails  to  do." 

The  interval  from  1836  to  1838,  he  styles  his  period 
of  controversy,  "  arising  from  agitations  in  the  Church 
of  New  School  doctrines  and  measures,  which  led  to 
a  division  of  presbytery  and  ecclesiastical  isolation. 
This  was  followed  by  the  next  period,  of  hard  study 
and  frequent  publication  for  the  confirmation  of  his 
own  faith,  and  the  general  edification  of  the  Church." 
Having  been  brought  up  in  an  Independent  Church, 
he  was  early  led  to  the  study  of  Church  government, 
and  was  greatly  stimulated  in  these  investigations  by 
the  exclusive  claims  of  prelacy,  which  were  at  that 
time  proclaimed  with  great  boldness  and  arrogance. 
About  this  time,  also,  appeared  the  "  Oxford  Tracts," 
which  he  styled  "  the  Goliath  of  the  host  of  the 
Philistines."  He  accordingly,  gave  himself  to  the 
collection  of  standard  works  on  these  controversies, 
that  by  thorough  study,  he  might  become  master  of  the 


39 


whole  subject,  and  afiford  his  brethren  the  advantage 
of  a  convenient  access  to  original  authorities.  It 
was  under  these  trying  and  perilous  circumstances, 
that  he  began  to  prepare  his  Lectures  on  Presby- 
terianism  and  Prelacy.  His  object  was  catholic  and 
defensive,  and  he  was  warmly  encouraged  by  leading 
men  among  the  laity,  as  well  as  among  his  ministerial 
brethren.  When  the  work  on  "  Apostolical  Suc- 
cession "  first  appeared,  its  authorship  was  questioned 
by  a  prominent  English  publisher,  who  said  that  he 
had  been  accustomed  to  associate  such  extensive 
research  and  profound  learning  with  mature  age  and 
experience.  This  work  was  *'  the  first  of  the  kind 
published  in  this  country,  and  distinctively  in  any 
other,  by  a  Presbyterian,  and  to  any  great  extent  by 
other  writers.  The  subject  was  novel  and  the  attempt 
hazardous."  What  he  judged  to  be  most  needed  was 
an  elaborate  compilation  of  arguments  and  authorities. 
Its  publication  was  followed  by  other  popular  and 
able  compends.  But  how  far  they  were  indebted  to 
his  voluminous  work,  he  never  knew.  It  was  re- 
marked, however,  by  a  prominent  minister,  that  it 
was  evident  they  had  been  "  milking  his  cow."  This 
was  what  he  expected  and  desired  ;  that  his  scholastic 
labors  and  researches,  should  furnish  material  for 
more  popular  works.  Thankful  for  the  ability  to 
write,  and  gratuitously  circulate  them,  he  was  content 
that  they  should  remain  on  the  students  shelves  of 
reference. 

The  works  on  "  Apostolical  Succession  "  and 
**  Presbyterianism  and  Prelacy,"  had  a  wide  circula- 
tion among  all  denominations  in  this  country  and  in 
Europe.      Both  Dr.  Alexander  and    Dr.   Miller,  of 


40 


Princeton,  commended  them  in  the  highest  terms. 
The  former  said,  that  when  he  looked  around  for  a 
text-book,  he  settled  on  Dr.  Smyth's  "  Presbyterian- 
ism  and  Prelacy "  as  the  best,  and  determined  to 
introduce  it  at  once.  Dr.  Duff,  of  London,  remarked 
to  the  author,  that  he  was  using  the  work  on 
"Apostolical  Succession,"  in  his  College,  in  Calcutta, 
and  that  when  he  was  consulted  on  the  claims  of 
Prelacy  and  Romanism,  he  found  it  a  complete 
armory.  His  work  on  the  '*  Unity  of  the  Races,'' 
was  criticised  in  Great  Britain,  as  a  "  masterly  and 
valuable  book."  Principal  Cunningham  wrote:  "It 
displays  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  subject,  and  of 
all  that  has  been  written  upon  it,  down  to  the  most 
recent  productions.  The  argument  is  conducted  with 
much  ability,  and  brought  to  a  triumphant  conclusion." 
Dr.  Duff  said  :  "  It  may  be  characterized  as  scholar- 
like, without  pedantry;  elaborate, without  tediousness, 
comprehensive,  without  diffuseness ;  argumentative, 
without  dryness." 

He  published,  in  all,  about  thirty  volumes,  em- 
bracing almost  every  subject.  The  most  popular 
works  are,  "  The  Well  in  the  Valley,"  "  Why  do  I 
Live,"  and  the  volumes  on  Missions.  These  are 
works  that  will  live.  He  received  scores  of  letters 
from  all  parts  of  the  world,  thanking  him  for  their 
publication,  and  expressing  the  pleasure  and  profit 
derived  from  their  perusal.  They  are  written  in  his 
most  earnest  and  engaging  style,  and  replete  with 
solid  doctrine,  in  the  most  practical  and  attractive 
form. 

His  method  of  writing  and  preparing  his  works  for 
publication,  though  justified  in  his  own  case,  he  would 
not   recommend    to    others.     "  After  arranging  and 


41 


digesting  my  materials  "  he  says,  "  I  wrote  in  great 
haste,  and  in  a  fever  of  excitement,  so  as  frequently 
to  bathe  me  in  perspiration,  and  perfectly  benumb  my 
fingers.  My  mind  was  so  entirely  abstracted,  that  I 
was,  often,  unable  to  recall  the  most  familiar  house- 
hold words  at  the  table.  I  never  copied  for  printing, 
or  re-wrote  any  one  work  or  pamphlet.  They  were 
printed  from  the  original  manuscript,  or  the  manu- 
script copied,  corrected,  amended,  altered,  abridged 
or  enlarged.  Of  course  this  is  to  my  condemnation, 
and  no  excuse  for  their  many  imperfections.  So  it 
has  been  however ;  I  never  could  bear  re-writing,  and 
the  truth  is  I  wrote  everything  in  the  expectation 
that  I  had  but  a  short  time  to  live,  and  must  do 
quickly  whatever  I  did.  I  wrote  each  work,  thinking 
it  was  my  last,  and  I  must  be  willing  to  do  whatever 
service  I  could,  and  lose  the  possible  fame  of  greater 
condensation,  correctness  of  style,  and  perfection  of 
arrangement.  I  have  also  detracted  greatly  from  the 
originality  of  my  works  by  numerous  quotations  and 
a  parade  of  multiplied  references." 

But  this  he  did  advisedly.  His  object  was  not 
originality  and  fame,  but  the  diffusion  of  useful 
knowledge.  Hence,  his  larger  works  partake  of  the 
nature  of  magazines  or  encyclopedias.  It  would  be 
far  easier,  and  save  immense  labor  for  writers  to  give 
as  their  own,  the  substance  of  other  men's  thoughts 
and  investigations,  than  to  trace  out  systematically 
the  sources  of  their  ideas,  facts  and  arguments. 
Having  the  advantage  of  an  extensive  library,  he 
determined  to  put  the  results  of  his  researches  in  such 
a  form,  as  to  give  his  brethren,  as  well  as  himself, 
an  opportunity  for  original  investigation.  His  quota- 
tions and  references,  therefore,  were  in  most  cases, 


42 


subsequent  additions,  and  the  result  of  continued 
accession  of  books  and  knowledge. 

These  memoranda  were  recorded,  he  says,  "simply 
as  facts  in  my  history,  known  only  to  myself,  and  so 
far  a  justification  of  my  course,  and  a  vindication  of 
my  own  judgment,  that  I  was,  by  opportunity  and 
capacity,  called  upon  to  write  and  to  publish ;  and 
that  however  temporary  and  limited  their  usefulness 
might  be,  they  were  approved  by  our  Church  and 
instrumental  in  promoting  truth  and  charity."  His 
publications  were  the  result  of  long  and  very  laborious 
study,  and  accumulated  preparations  for  years,  and 
were  prepared  chiefly  at  hours  beyond  pastoral  claims 
and  duties. 

Dr.  Smyth  probably  collected  the  largest  library 
which  has  ever  been  gathered  in  this  country, 
numbering  at  one  time,  nearly  twenty  thousand 
volumes.  In  all  his  travels  in  America  and  Europe, 
he  was  in  quest  of  books,  often  spending  whole  days 
in  stores  and  antiquarian  stalls ;  and,  for  years, 
consuming  the  greater  part  of  his  salary  in  the 
purchase  of  books.  He  says,  "  I  studied  Bibliography, 
in  order  to  collect  a  large,  systematic,  Presbyterian, 
Theological  and  Literary  Library,  as  an  armory  for 
our  Ministers  and  Churches  in  Charleston,  similar  to 
that  of  Dr.  Williams  in  London.  As  it  increased,  I 
labored  to  adapt  it  for  a  Theological  Seminary,  in 
which  I  hoped  it  ultimately  would  find  a  providential 
location."  This  desire  was  fully  realized.  About 
eleven  thousand  of  his  volumes  are  now  in  the  Theo- 
logical Seminary,  at  Columbia,  S.  C,  and  are  known 
as  the  "  Smyth  Library." 

It  seems  a  little  singular  that  he  should  caution 
young  ministers  "  to  beware  of  a  passion  for  books, 


43 


or  a  blind  chase  after  a  large  library.  It  is,  as  a 
general  thing,  vain  and  useless.  It  is  often  impover- 
ishing and  infatuating.  It  becomes  as  insatiate  as  the 
grave,  crying,  '  Give  !  give  ! '  I  feel  that  I  was  an 
exception  to  the  rule,  a  sacrifice,  willingly  offered  up 
for  the  public  good.  I  felt  a  special  call  to  collect  a 
large  library,  not  for  myself,  but  for  my  brethren's 
sake,  and  for  posterity.  This  has  been  a  part  of  my 
life-work.  But,  except  for  research  and  reference, 
I  have  confined  myself  within  my  rule,  having  my 
select  library,  preceptors,  and  social  companions  and 
bosom-friends,  whom  having  early  loved,  I  love  unto 
the  end,  and  hope  to  love  in  blissful  eternity  in  a 
world  of  light,  love  and  spiritual  progress." 

For  the  sake  of  general  improvement,  and  to  gratify 
a  long  cherished  taste  for  the  sciences,  he  attended 
the  Medical  Lectures  in  the  College,  at  Charleston, 
for  two  seasons,  and  pursued  the  study  privately. 
He  also  read  Blackstone  and  other  treatises  on  Law, 
together  with  a  course  of  classical  literature  and 
general  science.  In  the  Literary  Club,  of  which  he 
was  a  member,  he  enjoyed  a  "  delightful  opportunity  of 
widening  his  circle  of  study  and  resources  of  knowl- 
edge." He,  also,  commenced,  at  the  same  time,  a 
course  of  reading,  and  the  translation  of  the  earliest 
Fathers,  in  which  he  made  considerable  progress. 
These  items  are  mentioned  to  show  the  variety  and 
extent  of  his  studies.  He  was  an  omnivorous  reader. 
His  library  was  a  microcosm — a  little  world  of  books. 
The  wonder  is  not  that  he  became  a  living  encyclo- 
paedia of  knowledge,  but  that  his  feeble  frame  endured 
the  toil,  and  bore  the  burden. 

"  In  consideration  of  his  attainments  in  theological 
learning,  and  his  labors  in  the  cause  of  truth,"  he 


44 


was  honored  by  Princeton  with  the  degree  of  Doctor 
of  Divinity,  the  rule  being  suspended,  which  required 
six  months'  notice.  Never,  said  Dr.  Miller,  had  a 
degree  been  more  deservedly  conferred.  He  was 
at  that  time  about  thirty-seven  years  of  age,  and  had 
graduated  from  the  seminary  only  about  ten  years. 

Any  account  of  this  extraordinary  life  would  be 
imperfect,  which  did  not  give  great  prominence  to  the 
element  of  suffering.  The  weakling  of  the  flock,  he 
describes  himself  as  a  complaining,  croaking  boy,  of 
whom  his  father  said,  "  There  is  no  cure  for  him  but 
a  plaister  of  earth."  His  sad  words  proved  only  too 
true,  for  the  life-long  sufferer  found  no  respite  from 
pain  until  the  kind  earth  folded  him  to  her  bosom, 
and  covered  him  with  the  mantle  of  the  grave.  Both 
in  Belfast  and  Princeton,  his  health  failed  him. 
He  came  to  Charleston  to  receive  an  additional 
burden  of  suffering  in  the  form  of  sick  headaches, 
which  were  very  frequent  and  prostrating.  In  1848, 
he  was  attacked  with  partial  paralysis  "  which  pro- 
duced a  stiff,  abnormal  condition  of  his  left  arm  and 
fingers,  causing  a  derangement  between  the  nerves 
and  muscles,  from  which  he  never  recovered,  and 
which  often  occasioned  severe  pain." 

The  second  attack  of  undoubted,  and  confirmed 
paralysis,  in  1853,  left  him  long  on  crutches,  and 
almost  a  helpless  cripple.  This  attack,  as  he  describes 
it,  was  "at  the  ganglionic  centre,  at  the  base  of  the 
spine,  and  never  for  a  moment  affected  consciousness, 
memory  or  digestion." 

**  In  my  own  estimation,"  he  said,  "  I  have  lived  from 
day  to  day,  as  a  tenant  at  will,  looking  any  moment 
for  an  ejectment,  and  change  of  residence.  I  have 
searched  curiously  for  the  secret  source  of  vitality,  but 


45 


sought  in  vain.  I  awake  in  the  morning,  asking  myself: 
Is  it  possible  I  am  alive  ?  And  when  worn  and  exhausted 
by  pain  and  wakefulness,  and  oppressive  sinking  of 
the  soul,  in  her  pleading  voice,  crying  to  the  body, 

'Cease,  fond  nature,  cease  thy  strife, 
And  let  me  languish  into  life,' — 

I  have  wondered  with  a  great  amazement,  what  in- 
visible power  held  together  a  body  and  spirit  so 
willing  to  dissolve  partnership,  and  so  ill-mated  with 
one  another.  I  have  often  thought  I  could  write  a 
natural  history  of  pain.  I  have  known  her  from 
childhood.  We  have  walked  arm  in  arm,  dwelt  in 
the  same  house,  occupants  of  the  same  bed.  She 
is  like  the  chamelion  of  every  hue,  and  like  Proteus, 
of  every  shape.  She  is  sometimes  as  quick  as  light, 
and  again,  like  an  Alexandrian  line,  '  drags  her  slow 
length  along.'  Sometimes,  she  is  as  the  forked 
lightning  coursing  in  tortuous  torture  through  every 
limb  and  fibre  of  the  body,  and  dissolving  the  pent-up, 
and  collected  clouds  of  bitterness  into  flooding  tears  ; 
and  sometimes  she  is  that  lightning  in  its  negative 
form,  of  quiet,  dull  monotony,  or  occasional  playful 
flashes,  just  enough  to  rouse  the  attention  and  excite 
the  fancy.  Sometimes  she  languishes  into  the  faint 
tones  of  an  infant,  talking  in  its  sleep,  or  like  the 
bubbling  groan  of  some  strong  swimmer  in  his  agony, 
or  like  a  strong  man  in  the  whirlwind  of  his  passion, 
she  puts  on  an  angel's  might,  and  mystery  of  power." 
During  the  war,  he  spent  about  two  years  and  a 
half  in  Clarendon  county  of  this  State,  and,  while  he 
was  suffering  these  Protean  forms  of  pain,  he  followed 
the  Methodist  minister  through  his  whole  circuit,  of 
four  or  five  Churches,  preaching  every  Sabbath,  in  all 


46 


the  vicissitudes  of  weather,  the  oppressive  heat  of 
summer,  and  the  raw  and  rainy  rigors  of  winter.  The 
heroic  sufferer  could  find  no  excuse  for  idleness,  and 
the  only  reward  he  claimed  was  the  joy  of  laboring 
for  his  Master,  and  for  the  salvation  of  souls. 

About  four  years  before  his  tireless  energies  were 
released  from  the  fetters  of  the  flesh,  his  organs  of 
speech  were  suddenly  paralyzed  in  the  midst  of  his 
midnight  studies.  He  rose  to  call  a  servant  and  was 
surprised  to  find  that  he  was  incapable  of  articulating 
a  word.  Doubtless  believing  that  his  speech  was 
hopelessly  gone,  or  that  he  was  near  his  end,  he  wrote 
on  a  slip  of  paper,  to  his  wife,  "  Perfect  peace."  But 
finding  that  his  general  health  was  not  seriously 
affected  by  this  local  paralysis,  he  immediately  ad- 
dressed himself  to  the  task  of  regaining  his  lost 
speech,  with  a  resolute  will  that  was  never  paralyzed 
by  discouragement  or  despair ;  and,  never  did  he 
appear  greater  in  all  his  grand  career,  than  when 
reciting,  hour  after  hour,  and  week  after  week,  the 
letters  of  the  alphabet,  advancing  from  vowels,  and 
consonants  to  syllables,  and  from  monosyllables  to 
words,  and  sentences,  until  upon  the  anvil  of  his  iron 
will,  he  broke  link  by  link,  the  chains  that  bound  his 
eloquent  tongue,  and,  at  length,  shouting,  like  David 
of  old,  "  Awake  up  my  glory,"  his  voice  rang  again 
with  the  praises  of  the  sanctuary,  and  the  "  glad 
tidings  of  salvation."  For  many  years,  every  one  had 
spoken  of  him  as  "the  wonderful  man;"  but  when  his 
mute  tongue  was  unloosed,  when  this  Samson  had 
rent  asunder  his  fetters  with  the  sheer  force  of  his 
giant  will,  his  friends  were  themselves  dumb  with 
amazement.  From  this  time,  he  continued  his  vocal 
exercises,  repeating  the  scriptures  and  pages  of  sacred 


47 


poetry,  which  his  memory  retained  with  astonishing 
accuracy. 

After  the  lapse  of  a  year  or  more,  he  felt  it  his 
duty  on  account  of  growing  weakness  and  an  im- 
perfect utterance,  to  resign  his  pastoral  charge  ;  but 
he  did  not  resign  his  determination  to  work  for  his 
Master,  as  long  as  life  lasted.  Although  in  the  esti- 
mation of  all  but  himself,  he  was  honorably  discharged 
from  warfare,  he  refused  to  lay  down  his  arms  and 
retire  from  the  field  of  active  service.  Without  the 
slightest  abatement  of  his  former  energy  and  zeal,  he 
continued  to  preach  whenever  called  upon,  either  in 
his  own  Church,  or  the  Churches  of  other  denomi- 
nations ;  and  by  his  presence,  prayers,  counsel  and 
active  service,  to  help  forward  every  good  work ;  in 
the  Bible  Society,  the  Clerical  Union,  the  weekly 
prayer-meeting,  (which  he  attended  regularly  in  all 
kinds  of  weather,)  in  the  higher  and  lower  judicatures 
of  the  Church  ;  until  within  a  few  weeks  of  his  death, 
he  was  regularly  present  every  Sabbath  in  his  own 
pulpit,  generally  offering  the  closing  prayer,  the 
unction  of  which  still  lingers  in  our  memory,  like  a 
sweet  savor  ;  and  on  communion  occasions,  he  always 
made  the  sacramental  address  at  the  Lord's  Table, 
when  he  often  seemed  to  be  literally  looking  within 
the  veil,  and  holding  visible  communion  with  the 
Saviour. 

Thus  did  he  labor  on  with  unflagging  energy, 
working  until  his  throbbing  heart  ceased  to  beat,  and 
the  "  pulse  of  life  stood  still."  When  all  his  branches 
were  bare,  and  the  atmosphere  bleak  and  wintry,  his 
soul-life  was  budding  with  new  desires  and  hopes, 
and  new  plans  and  enterprises  were  struggling  into 
bloom  and  fruit. 


48 


It  was  during  these  latter  years  of  suffering,  only 
two  months  after  the  last  stroke  of  paralysis,  that  a 
disastrous  fire  swept  away  the  choicest  portion  of  his 
collection  of  books,  which  he  called  his  "  working 
library,"  together  with  valuable  manuscripts  upon 
which  he  had  bestowed  several  years  of  laborious 
study.  This  melancholy  loss  he  was  never  able  to 
repair,  partly  from  physical  inability  to  bear  the 
exhausting  labor  or  research  and  investigations,  and, 
partly,  on  account  of  the  impossibility  of  replacing 
rare  and  costly  works.  It  was  a  sore  trial  to  him,  and 
a  serious  loss  to  the  world. 

Such  a  life  of  suffering  is  replete  with  valuable 
lessons.  As  drawn  out  by  himself,  and  expanded  at 
considerable  length,  they  would  form  an  interesting 
and  useful  volume.  We  have  space  here  only  for  the 
briefest  summary.  It  teaches,  first,  "that  great  health 
is  not  necessary  to  great  labor,  and  that  a  feeble  and 
imperfect  constitution  is  not  inconsistent  with  a  long 
life."  The  adage,  that  "a  sound  mind  must  have  a 
sound  body,"  and  that  the  latter  is  essential  to  success, 
must  be  received  with  great  qualification.  The 
greatest  thinkers  and  workers  have,  probably,  been, 
on  the  whole,  among  the  least  healthy  and  vigorous, 
and  often,  among  the  most  sickly,  dwelling  in  tene- 
ments, shaken  by  every  wind.  There  is,  also,  in  such 
constitutions  a  resiliency  and  recuperative  power,  a 
buoyant  elasticity  and  energy  in  its  periods  of  restor- 
ation, as  to  give  it  great  advantage. 

Neither  is  perfect,  uninterrupted  health,  necessary 
to  enjoyment.  "  I  am  often  as  merry  as  the  cricket 
which  I  have  been  endeavoring  to  attach  to  my  room, 
that  I  may  find  a  solace  in  its  lively  and  soothing  song, 
and  a  pleasing  remembrance  of  childhood's  scenes. 


49 


I  often  soar  with  the  lark  in  its  jubilant  flight  toward 
heaven,  and  join  in  its  carol  and  ecstatic  rapture  and 
joy.  And  when  not  in  humor  of  positive  joy  and 
self-amusing  laughter,  I  can  often  sympathize  with 
the  peaceful,  playful  contentment  of  the  little  kittens 
that  perform  their  antics  around  my  table,  and  partake 
of  my  simple  fare." 

Dr,  Smyth  was  a  cheerful,  happy  sufferer.  His 
sufferings  never  made  life  dark,  dismal  or  undesirable. 
He  had  cultivated  a  merry,  joyous  spirit.  He  had 
learned  to  smile  on  suffering,  and  extract  pleasure 
from  pain.  The  cares,  anxieties,  disappointments, 
afflictions  and  sorrows,  that  swarmed  around  him  like 
bees,  armed  with  piercing  stings,  were  all  laden  with 
honey  forhis  hive  of  cheerfulness.  He  recommended  the 
student  to  "  cherish  a  lively,  cheerful,  joyous,  laughing 
spirit,"  and  suggests  as  auxiliaries  to  cheerfulness, 
"  a  growing  acquaintance  with  natural  scenery,  a  cul- 
tivation of  the  taste  and  the  imagination.  With  such 
knowledge  and  taste,  no  one  need  ever  be  alone  or 
unhappy,  /.  e.  when  the  eye  of  faith  looks  through 
nature  up  to  nature's  God." 

"  A  knowledge  and  love  of  singing  and  instru- 
mental music,  will  be  a  great  help  in  reviving,  the 
drooping  spirits  and  dissipating  morbid  feelings." 

His  own  favorite  resource  was  poetry.  He  wooed 
her  tenderly  and  constantly,  and  found  her  as  a  well 
of  living  waters  to  his  thirsty  soul.  He  carried  a 
large  volume  of  well  selected  poems  and  hymns  in 
his  memory,  which  he  was  in  the  habit  of  repeating 
to  himself  in  his  solitary  walks  or  drives,  and  in  the 
loneliness  of  the  sick  chamber.  His  works  abound 
with  poetical  quotations,  without  which  no  book  would 
bear  the  impress  of  Dr.  Smyth's  mind  and  heart. 
4 


50 


We  should  not  omit  to  say  that  he  regarded  "  the 
inward,  happy  communion  of  the  soul  with  God,"  as 
the  ultimate  fountain  of  a  cheerful  disposition,  whose 
living  waters  fill  every  channel  of  labor  and  suffering, 
nature  and  society,  music  and  poetry. 

He  once  remarked  that  it  was  "  of  great  importance 
to  a  man,  especially  of  sedentary  habits,  to  be  able  to 
raise  a  laugh  when  he  is  growing  moody  and  phleg- 
matic. For  this  purpose  let  him  treasure  up  any 
scenes  of  particularly  ludicrous  and  laughter-exciting 
merriment,  that  may  have  formed  a  comic  interlude 
between  the  more  solemn  scenes  of  the  tragedy  of 
life.  A  good  laugh  is  a  great  exhilirant.  It  puts 
body,  soul  and  spirit  in  good  humor,  and  in  a  ready 
disposition  to  work."  Wit  and  humor  was  one  branch 
of  his  study,  and  he  kept  comic  pictures  hanging 
behind  his  study  door  that  he  might,  at  any  time, 
work  off  his  moody  feelings. 

In  reviewing  his  years  of  suffering,  he  gave  it  as 
his  opinion  that  "  a  life  of  pain  and  a  body  of  weak- 
ness, are  perhaps  the  best,  and  on  the  whole,  the 
happiest,  and,  for  the  soul,  always  the  most  prosperous 
condition  of  its  probationary  state." 

Dr.  Smyth  was  as  great  in  Jminility,  as  he  was  great 
in  suffering.  He  was  uttering  the  sincere  language 
of  humble  submission  to  the  Divine  will,  when  he 
said,  "  I  am  sensible  of  my  entire  weakness,  depend- 
ence, and  unworthiness.  I  have  desired  to  take  my 
place  and  position  as  God  assigns  it,  neither  taking 
the  direction  nor  refusing  to  follow;  neither  avoiding 
humiliation  nor  exaltation;  having  a  profound  sense 
of  my  own  sinful  nothingness,  and  of  my  ill-desert 
of  any  the  lowest  seat  among  the  great,  wise  and 
good ;  and  yet  believing  I  can  be,  and  do  all  things 


-t 


51 


God  requires  of  me,  through  his  wisdom  guiding,  and 
grace  strengthening.  I  have  endeavored  to  distrust 
myself  without  distrusting  God,  and  have  endured 
many  rebuffs,  many  hard  blows,  many  contemptuous 
remarks  and  actions.  I  have  been  scorched,  peeled 
and  annihilated ;  filled  with  shame  and  self-loathing, 
and  would  gladly,  a  thousand  times  have  sunk  into 
the  earth,  or  fallen  as  a  star  of  night,  into  darkness 
and  nothingness.  I  have  prayed  God  to  disappoint 
all  my  desires,  blast  all  my  schemes,  and  throw  con- 
tempt on  all  my  pride,  so  far  as  is  necessary  to  my 
sanctification  and  usefulness.  I  have  endeavored  to 
walk  humbly  and  softly,  and  to  receive  as  well- 
deserved  the  chastisement  of  the  Lord.  If  a  course  of 
discouraging  circumstances,  and  adverse  prospects  be 
designed  expressly  for  my  chastisement,  may  I  not 
hope  that  it  was  meant  in  mercy  ?  Raise  and  fix. 
Almighty  Spirit,  my  fainting,  wavering  heart,  to  a 
true  resignation,  the  only  atmosphere  of  peace.  O, 
penetrate  me  with  deeper,  holier,  happier  views  of 
things  eternal,  as  imminent  and  near  at  hand,  as 
swiftly  approachingand  inconceivably  glorious.  Then, 
O,  my  God,  let  earthly  hopes  be  darkness,  earthly 
joys  expire,  intervening  sadness,  as  well  as  final  sick- 
ness and  death,  with  all  their  pains  lie  before  me,  I 
will  adore  thee  with  a  grateful  heart,  and  pray  never 
more  to  complain,  but  chide  my  every  regret,  and 
suppress  all  my  repinings." 

But  underneath  all  these  various  aspects  of  his  life, 
lay  a  noble  Christian  manhood.  In  concluding  this 
hasty  and  imperfect  survey,  let  us  glance  at  the  entire 
man.  Those  of  you  who  knew  him  in  his  prime,  will 
readily  recall  his  tall,  erect,  commanding  figure, 
crowned  with  raven  locks  of  luxuriant  growth,  and 


52 


always  arranged  with  care  and  taste ;  his  bright,  blue 
eyes,  always  wide  open  ;  wearing  in  repose  a  tender 
expression  ;  sparkling  with  humor  in  social  converse, 
and  flashing  with  fire  in  animated  debate,  or  pulpit 
discourse ;  his  voice,  naturally  sweet  and  mellow  as 
a  flute  in  its  conversational  tones,  and  which  imparted 
to  his  persuasive  appeals  an  irresistible  pathos,  that 
moved  and  melted  to  tears  the  most  hardened  hearer; 
but  when  he  rose  to  the  height  of  his  great  argument, 
and  to  an  impassioned  and  eloquent  declamation,  it 
became  as  sonorous  as  the  blast  of  a  bugle,  and  filled 
his  vast  audience-room  with  its  expansive  volume. 
His  brow  was  not  massive,  nor  his  features  and  face 
large,  yet  they  bore  the  image  and  superscription  of 
greatness,  which  the  most  ordinary  beholder  could 
read.  During  the  last  twenty  years  of  his  life,  his 
bent  form,  crippled  gait,  and  growing  infirmities,  re- 
minded one  of  the  wreck  of  a  noble  ship,  which,  with 
its  rent  sails  and  dismasted  hulk,  still  rides  proudly 
and  grandly  upon  the  billowy  sea,  and  weathers  its 
raging  storms,  when  scores  of  staunch  and  sea-worthy 
vessels  are  stranded  and  wrecked  around  her.  The 
hobbling  gait  did  not  lose  its  dignity,  nor  the  shat- 
tered form  its  manliness. 

In  his  intellectual  and  moral  character  he  presents 
a  singular  spectacle  of  opposite,  antagonistic  qualities. 
He  was  at  home,  in  company  with  Calvin  and  Owen, 
and  delighted  as  a  school  boy,  over  Robinson  Crusoe 
or  a  nursery  rhyme.  He  wrestled  with  the  giants  of 
theology  and  philosophy,  and  roamed  the  woods  with 
the  poets,  and  communed  with  the  cricket  on  his 
hearth,  and  gambolled  with  the  children  and  kittens 
around  his  fireside.  The  stern,  uncompromising  ad- 
vocate for  truth,  he  was  bubbling  with  Irish  humor. 


53 


The  lion-like  warrior  was  a  gentle-hearted  lamb.  He 
was  a  bold,  gallant  spirit,  fearless  of  an  opponent, 
reckless  of  consequences,  however  disastrous  to  his 
own  reputation  or  interest.  Yet,  he  never  "  broke 
the  bruised  reed,  nor  quenched  the  smoking  flax," 
but  bore  his  wounded  ones  in  his  arms,  and  carried 
them  in  his  bosom.  His  manner  in  the  halls  of 
debate  was  often  stern,  imperious,  relentless  ;  some- 
tirries  even  harsh,  cruel,  unmerciful  to  those  who 
opposed  him.  But  they  who  were  acquainted  with 
the  man,  knew  how  much  to  attribute  to  a  strong, 
passionate  nature,  whose  energies  were  all  aroused, 
stimulated,  and  fired  by  the  heat  of  discussion,  and 
zeal  for  the  cause  of  truth,  until  he  burned  like  a 
volcano  ;  and  how  much  allowance  to  make  for  the 
deep  spring  of  love  hidden  beneath  this  flaming 
Vesuvius,  and  which  was  ready  to  gush  like  a  pent-up 
fountain,  as  soon  as  the  lava  of  controversy  had  spent 
itself  Dr.  Thornwell,  who  often  encountered  him  in 
the  deliberative  assembly,  said  of  him,  that  no  one 
had  a  kinder  heart  and  a  more  forgiving  spirit,  than 
Dr.  Smyth.  He  never  nursed  a  grudge.  His  capa- 
cious memory  had  no  room  for  garnered  wrongs,  or 
treasured  wrath.  All  injuries  were  forgiven  and  for- 
gotten. We  have  the  declaration  in  his  own  hand- 
writing: "  I  cherish  no  ill-will,  no  envious  dislike  to 
any  human  being,  as  I  never  had  any  personal  pride, 
or  self-interest  to  gratify  in  any  ministerial  or  Church 
plans." 

He  had  an  unbounded  ambition  to  make  the  most 
of  his  talents  and  opportunities,  and  to  attain  to  all 
possible  human  excellence  and  usefulness.  There 
was  no  limit  to  his  aspiring  soul,  and  every  successful 
achievement  only  stimulated  him  to  bolder  and  loftier 


54 


endeavor.  It  deserves  to  be  noticed  that,  with  a 
natural  desire  to  be  prominently  useful,  it  had  been 
impressed  upon  him  by  pastors,  teachers  and  friends, 
from  the  time  that  he  "  officiated  as  chaplain  of  the 
nursery,  with  the  high  easy  chair  for  a  pulpit,"  until 
he  entered  the  Theological  Seminary,  that  he  had 
before  him  an  extraordinary  career.  Yet  he  was  as 
meek  and  humble  as  a  child  when  disappointment  and 
defeat  were  interpreted  as  expressions  of  the  Divine 
will.  When  he  was  taken  to  the  exceeding  high 
mountain  of  carnal  ambition,  and  offered  a  brilliant 
career  and  a  world-wide  fame,  in  the  midst  of  this 
temptation  of  the  devil,  he  prayed,  "  God  be  merciful 
to  me  a  sinner,"  and  then  laid  upon  the  altar  of  sacrifice, 
his  ambition,  his  studies,  his  writings,  his  preaching, 
his  success — all  that  he  had  ever  desired  or  designed 
to  do — a  whole  burnt  offering,  and  turning  away  from 
the  burning  pile,  he  prayed  again :  "  I  beseech  thee, 
Lord,  to  forgive  all  my  self-righteousness  and  self- 
seeking,  and  grant  that  I  may  be  saved,  as  by  fire, 
with  the  loss  of  all  things,  for  which  I  have  been 
commended,  and  that  I  may  not  be  a  cast-away,  but 
a  trophy  of  all-conquering  and  all-sanctifying  grace. 
Amen  and  Amen." 

That  he  was  ambitious,  without  vain-glory,  is  dem- 
onstrated by  his  whole  ministerial  life,  during  which, 
in  every  measure,  to  which  he  laid  his  hands,  he 
adopted  the  very  course  that  imperils  reputation  and 
the  very  last  that  vanity  would  have  chosen ;  at  the 
same  time  declining  complimentary  and  enticing  calls 
in  every  direction,  most  any  one  of  which  would  have 
been  advantageous  to  his  reputation  and  fame.  He 
was  called  to  the  South  Carolina  College ;  to  the 
Editorial  chair  of  a  Presbyterian  newspaper  in  New 


55 


York,  at  the  urgent  request  of  leading  ministers ;  to 
the  College  at  Danville,  Kentucky ;  to  Union  Theo- 
logical Seminary ;  to  the  Theological  Seminary  at 
Columbia;  to  a  College  in  Indiana;  to  Magee  Col- 
lege, Add  to  this  that  a  professional  life  was  always 
his  choice,  to  which  all  his  tastes  and  studies  led 
him  ;  and  that  the  Professorship  most  consonant  to 
his  studies  was  pressed  upon  him  by  Dr.  Thornwell 
and  many  other  brethren — and  what  a  sacrifice  of 
reputation  was  made  on  the  altar  of  duty.  He  felt 
that  Providence  had  not  opened  wide  the  door  for 
him,  and  he  would  not  climb  up  some  other  way,  for 
the  sake  of  reputation,  and  leave  a  post  of  duty  and 
of  danger,  where  he  had  been  set  for  the  defense  of 
the  Gospel,  and  as  a  standard-bearer  of  the  Church 
in  a  season  of  perilous  strife.  "  My  congregation," 
said  he,  "  was  isolated  from  others,  and  had  to  stand 
against  much  public  opprobrium.  Therefore  I  deter- 
mined to  live  and  die  with  my  people,  unless  Provi- 
dence opened  a  wide  door,  and  forcibly  and  fairly 
ejected  me." 

As  a  minister,  he  was  profoundly  theological,  yet 
thoroughly  practical.  As  a  Churchman,  he  was  as 
thoroughly  denominational  as  he  was  catholic.  He 
would  go  to  the  stake  for  Calvinism  or  Presbyterian- 
ism,  and,  on  the  way  to  martyrdom,  he  would  gather 
faggots  to  burn  bigots  and  sectaries.  As  a  philan- 
thropist, he  would  reform  the  evils  of  society,  with 
an  almost  iconoclastic  severity,  while,  like  the  tender 
and  compassionate  Saviour,  he  visited  the  widow  and 
the  fatherless  with  a  sympathetic  heart  and  tearful  eye. 

As  a  public  speaker,  he  was  singularly  cool  and 
self-possessed  ;   yet  he  said,  "  this  has  been  only  to  a 


56 


certain  extent  real,  and  to  no  extent  natural  or  con- 
stant. I  was  originally  very  diffident,  and  was  pun- 
ished for  my  embarrassment  at  school.  In  my  early 
attempts  at  prayer,  I  wrote  and  committed.  In  my 
efforts  at  speaking  and  debating,  I  have  been  so  dis- 
concerted as  to  lose  all  presence  of  mind."  He 
never  rose  to  speak  even  at  a  prayer-meeting  without 
solicitude  and  nervous  trepidation,  and  never  trusted 
himself  on  any  occasion,  to  speak  without  prepa- 
ration when  it  could  possibly  be  avoided. 

As  a  student  and  author,  he  said  of  himself,  "  I  am 
a  living  proof  that  tastes  and  inclination  may  be 
modified,  and  the  mind  made  to  give  itself  wholly  and 
with  delight  to  whatever  course  of  study  circum- 
stances may  render  advisable  or  necessary.  I  became 
enthusiastic  in  antiquarian  and  historic  lore ;  again, 
in  physical  science  ;  again,  in  controversial  discussion  ; 
again,  in  exegetical  study  and  in  practical  and  didactic 
discourse ;  and  always,  and  most  con  aniore  in  mental 
and  moral  philosophy ;  and  always  in  poetical  litera- 
ture and  belles-lettres.  I  feel  that  I  could  now  engage 
in  any  one  branch  of  study  with  interest  and  enjoy- 
ment. With  God's  help,  therefore,  a  man  can  become 
what  he  ought  to  be,  and  what  the  demands  of  the 
age,  of  Providence  and  of  the  Church  require." 

Hence,  he  could  turn  with  marvellous  ease  from 
scholastic  studies  and  dry  discussions,  to  finish  a 
sacramental  discourse,  or  memorize  a  page  of  poetry. 

The  most  prominent  trait  of  his  character,  that 
which  most  distinguished  him  from  ordinary  men — 
that,  without  which  Dr.  Smyth  could  not  have  been 
— was  an  indomitable  will,  that  was  never  conquered 
save  by  the  Omnipotent  Being  who  made  him.  He 
never  interpreted  any  apparently  insurmountable  ob- 


- 


57 


stacle,  or  appalling  danger,  as  a  providential  call  to 
lay  down  his  arms  and  retire  from  the  field.  Diffi- 
culties never  terrified  him.  Opposition  only  goaded 
his  determination  to  more  resolute  and  persevering 
endeavor ;  and  the  greater  the  odds  against  him,  the 
higher  would  his  courage  rise  to  do  all,  and  to  dare 
all  for  the  vindication  of  his  principles.  This  giant 
will,  that  was  never  shorn  of  its  locks,  that  laughed 
at  impossibilities,  that  mocked  at  disease  and  suffering, 
inspired  him  with  untiring  industry  and  unflagging 
energy.  He  often  remarked  that  the  will  can  conquer 
pain,  and  command  the  shattered  nerves  to  hold  their 
peace.  On  one  occasion,  when  the  night  was  dark 
and  inclement,  and  his  whole  frame  writhing  with 
agony,  he  assumed  a  posture  of  defiance,  and  em- 
phasizing his  words  with  his  crutch,  while  his  chamber 
rung  with  the  echo,  he  rose  with  determination, 
declaring  that  he  would  not  "stand  it  any  longer." 
Pushing  out  into  the  dismal  darkness,  against  the 
earnest  remonstrances  of  the  members  of  his  house- 
hold, he  returned,  after  several  hours  of  gymnastic 
exercise,  and  exclaimed,  with  an  air  of  triumph:  "I 
told  you  so.  Any  man  may  subdue  pain,  if  he  only 
has  the  will' to  do  it." 

Few  men  would  have  so  valued  life,  or  regarded 
the  obligation  to  prolong  existence,  as  to  have  en- 
dured one-half  the  trouble  and  sacrifice  it  cost  him  to 
live  on  from  day  to  day.  Sometimes  when  looking 
upon  his  "  poor  impoverished  limbs,  and  almost 
formless  frame,  that  he  felt  he  ought  to  be  in  the 
grave,  buried  out  of  sight;"  the  struggle  for  life 
seemed  utterly  hopeless  and  equally  undesirable.  But 
the  feeling  of  gloom  was  only  momentary,  like  the 
shadow  of  a  passing  cloud,  and   applying  again  and 


-I 


58 


more  vigorously  the  spur  and  the  whip  of  resolution, 
he  roused  his  lagging  spirit,  and  the  old  war-horse 
was  again  shaking  the  dusty  plains  with  his  crippled, 
but  iron-shod  energies. 

Living  as  he  did  for  so  many  years,  a  mechanical 
existence,  artificially  supported,  his  life  exhibits  the 
most  remarkable  instance  which  we  have  ever  known, 
of  the  sublime  triumph  of  mind  over  matter — of  the 
indwelling  spirit  over  the  external  body.  Here  is  a 
problem  for  the  materialist ;  a  mysterious  exception 
to  the  theory  that  mind  is  the  result  of  organization, 
and  depends  for  its  vigor  and  energy  upon  bodily 
health  and  strength. 

When  he  lost  the  use  of  his  limbs,  he  still  con- 
tinued to  take  his  daily  rides,  being  lifted  into  and 
out  of  his  carriage  ;  and,  propped  up  in  his  old  study- 
chair,  he  was  still  surrounded  with  all  the  leading 
papers  and  magazines  of  the  day,  both  of  American 
and  European  publication.  He  kept  fully  abreast  of 
the  age,  and  up  to  the  last  hour  of  his  life,  he  could 
have  traced  out  a  complete  map  of  modern  thought, 
with  all  its  broad  currents  and  tributary  streams. 

On  the  Sabbath  afternoon  we  accompanied  him  in 
his  last  daily  ride,  towards  the  setting  sun,  heaven 
seemed  to  be  imaged  in  the  still  water,  and  green 
fields,  and  the  dying  believer  in 

*•  The  western  evening  light, 
That  melts  in  deepening  gloom." 

He  seldom  spoke ;  his  soul  seemed  rapt  in  heavenly 
communion.  It  was  evident  that  the  great  and  good 
man  was  rapidly  ripening  for  heaven.  Having 
"  brought  forth  fruit  in  old  age,"  he  was  ready  to  be 
gathered  as  a  "  shock  of  corn  fully  ripe."     The  days 


^ 


59 


of  controversy  were  over.  He  had  "  fought  the  good 
fight"  for  himself,  and  for  the  Church  he  loved 
against  the  world,  the  flesh,  and  the  devil.  He  had 
"  finished  his  course — the  race  that  was  set  before 
him."  He  had  "endured  hardness  as  a  good  soldier." 
He  had  fought  his  last  battle,  and  while  waiting  for 
his  "  crown  of  righteousness,"  he  had  nothing  to  do 
but  lie  passively  in  the  hands  of  the  spirit,  and  let 
him  finish  the  "  workmanship  of  his  grace."  How 
sweetly,  fragrantly,  and  beautifully  the  passive  virtues 
of  humility,  meekness,  patience  and  submission,  un- 
folded during  these  mellow,  autumnal  days  ! 

Only  once  did  he  summon  his  wasting  energies  to 
urge  upon  his  youthful  successor,  fidelity  to  the 
Church,  which  was  his  first  and  only  love,  and  for 
which  he  had  sacrificed  all  that  he  had  to  give.  For 
forty  years,  he  had  planted  and  reaped  in  this  field 
which  the  Lord  had  continually  blessed,  so  that 
"  seed  time  and  harvest "  had  never  failed.  Fre- 
quently revived  by  copious  and  refreshing  showers  of 
grace,  the  Church  was  enlarged  almost  every  com- 
munion season,  with  regular  accessions.  Since  the 
beginning  of  his  own  ministry  in  1832,  he  had  re- 
ceived more  than  five  hundred  additions,  many  of 
whom  are  now  useful  ministers  of  the  gospel. 

During  the  period  from  1832  to  1846,  there  were 
added  three  hundred  and  fifty-four  white,  and  one 
hundred  colored  members,  of  whom  nine  became 
ruling  elders  and  seven  entered  the  ministry. 

Well  might  he  say,  on  reviewing  his  long  and 
laborious  life  :  "  I  rejoice  that  I  have  lived  and  labored. 
The  contest  is  the  same  from  the  beginning  to  the 
end  of  time.  One  is  the  warfare,  the  issue,  the  com- 
batants, the  victory,  the  results,  and  the  everlasting 


6o 


glory.  I  rejoice  to  have  mingled  in  it,  and  have  been 
a  soldier  in  the  army  of  Immanuel.  I  have  fought 
under  His  banner  and  eye,  and  for  His  crown  and 
covenant.  My  name  is  upon  the  roll-book  of 
heaven's  heraldry,  and  will  not  be  forgotten  in  the 
great  muster  day  when  the  roll  shall  be  called,  and 
every  man  shall  spring  forth  from  his  gory  bed,  on 
some  embattled  field,  in  the  distant  ages,  and  in  the 
uttermost  parts  of  the  earth.  To  have  been  a  private 
in  some  regiment,  to  have  fought  and  fallen  in  some 
battle  for  the  truth,  will  insure  an  immortality  of 
fame.  But  to  have  won  the  hearts  of  some  brave  and 
loyal  company,  to  have  drawn  them  to  yourself,  to 
Christ,  and  to  one  another,  to  have  united  them  with 
love  to  Christ,  and  inspired  them  with  zeal  and  de- 
votion to  his  cause,  to  have  marshalled  them  among 
the  sacramental  host  of  God's  elect,  to  have  led  them 
to  the  high  places  of  the  field,  to  have  shared  their 
dangers  and  privation,  and  been  an  example  of 
suffering  and  patience,  to  have  fallen  at  their  head 
with  the  sword  of  the  Spirit  in  his  hand  and  his  face  to 
the  foe,  and  words  of  victory  and  cheer  upon  his  tongue 
— this  is  glory  enough  for  any  mortal.  Surveying  thus 
the  whole  history  of  this  mysterious  warfare,  as  I  shall 
one  day  from  heaven's  Mount  of  Vision,  I  feel  that 
the  past,  the  present,  and  the  future,  are  alike  inter- 
esting to  me,  and  that  I  am  alike  interested  in  each. 
It  is  one,  and  the  glory,  the  grandeur  of  the  whole, 
and  the  everlasting  blessedness  resulting  from  it  are 
mine  as  much  as  they  are  another's.  I  shall  soon  die 
and  my  works  too.  But  I  shall  not  all  die,  nor  all  of 
them.  They  are  among  the  links  in  the  chain  of 
consequences,  and  the  procession  of  effects.  The 
effects  may  abide  when  the  causes  are  e.xtinct.     The 


6i 


harvest  may  multiply  when  the  original  has  perished. 
As  I  look  back  upon  the  past,  I  rejoice  that  a  place 
has  been  given  me  among  the  ranks  of  Messiah's 
friends.  As  I  look  forward  to  the  future,  I  rejoice 
that  his  cause  is  onward  and  triumphant,  his  kingdom 
everlasting,  and  that  I  shall  have  a  glorious  part  in 
•his  inheritance  among  the  saints  in  light." 

On  the  third  day  after  he  was  prostrated  by  the 
fatal  disease,  his  sorrowing  family  and  friends  were 
called  to  stand  beside  his  dying  bed.  They  had  laid 
him  upon  the  couch  of  suffering,  expecting  that  the 
tide  of  life  would  gradually  ebb  away,  as  the  disease 
of  dropsy  slowly  rose  from  his  lower  limbs  toward 
the  vital  organs.  But  he  had  retired  only  to  compose 
himself  for  his  final  sleep.  His  hard,  spasmodic 
breathing,  plainly  showed  that  the  disease  was  pressing 
upon  his  lungs.  His  suffering  was  not  acute,  but  of 
that  peculiar,  indescribable  kind,  which  proceeds 
from  gradual  suffocation.  No  part  of  his  wasted, 
tortured  body  seemed  to  escape  the  ravages  of  disease 
but  the  unclouded  brain,  from  which  the  broad,  bright 
disc  of  his  intellect  shone  out,  like  the  setting  sun 
from  a  clear  sky.  He  did  not  seem  to  realize  that  he 
was  so  near  his  end.  He  never  spoke  of  death,  save 
to  remind  his  family  and  friends  that  he  was  "  leaning 
on  the  arm  of  his  Beloved,"  and  that  the  dark  valley 
had  no  terrors  for  him.  His  last  effort  to  speak  was 
to  dictate  a  message  to  his  beloved  people.  He  fell 
asleep,  bearing  them  upon  his  heart ;  and  on  the  wings 
of  his  departing  spirit,  he  bore  them  to  the  bosom  of 
his  God.  No  act  of  his  life  was  more  positive  than 
that  of  obeying  the  order  of  his  Great  Captain  to  put 
off  his  armor,  and  go  up  to  receive  his  crown.  He 
never  marched  more  soldierly  to  the  field  of  battle, 


62 


than  he  passed  from  the  Church  militant  to  the 
Church  triumphant. 

"The  faith  was  kept,  the  course  was   run, 
The  final  victory  grandly  won, 

And  now  the  King 
Doth  grace  that  brow,  all  seamed  with  scars, 
With  woodroys  crown  of  many  stars, 
While  anthems  ring.'' 

"  Well  done,  good  and  faithful  servant,  enter  thou 
into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord." 

Dr.  Smyth  had  his  faults  and  imperfections,  (and 
who  has  not  ?)  But  they  were  like  spots  on  the  sun. 
They  who  view  a  great  and  good  life  through  the 
smoky  glass  of  prejudice,  or  the  magnifying  glass  of 
envy,  will  discover  in  the  holiest  of  saints,  who  at 
best  are  but  partially  sanctified,  glaring  defects  and 
disfigurements.  But  they  who  look  at  men  as  they 
look  at  the  sun  to  enjoy  its  light  and  the  objects  of 
beauty  it  reveals,  will  find  what  we  have  feebly  attempted 
to  portray — the  glorious  image  of  Christ,  and  the 
precious  fruits  of  His  spirit.  They  will  see  that  love 
to  Jesus  was  the  key-note  of  the  life,  character,  and 
labors  of  this  wonderful  man. 

Those  who  are  acquainted  with  the  science  of 
music,  are  aware  that  the  grandest,  harmonic  designs, 
are  the  result  of  the  skilful  combination  of  discordant 
sounds.  This  analogy  may  help  us  to  understand 
how  all  the  harsh  and  grating  discords  of  the  Christ- 
ian's militant  life,  may  be  justified  to  the  ear  of  faith, 
as  they  are  made  to  "  work  together"  for  the  good 
of  the  believer,  himself,  and  to  the  Church  for  which 
he  labored  and  suffered.  We  estimate  the  merits  of 
our  great  Church  instrument,  not  by  drawing  out  a 
few  unmusical  stops,  and  pressing  a  few  noisy  pedals, 


63 


but  by  "  putting  on  the  full  organ,"  and  listening  to 
the  blended  harmony. 

There  are  some  lives  that  are  like  a  sweet  psalm, 
breathing  from  a  well-tuned  harp.  They  have  their 
mission,  but  not  like  that  of  Calvin  and  Luther.  There 
are  others  whose  lives,  with  all  their  varied  and  oppos- 
ing aspects,  resemble  a  full  orchestra,  or  band  of  music, 
with  its  blast  of  trumpets,  and  roaring  drums,  and 
clashing  cymbals,  as  they  grandly  harmonize  with  the 
softer,  sweeter  instruments.  Such  are  the  lives  with 
which  Jehovah  leads  on  the  sacramental  host  to  battle 
and  to  victory.  As  we  stand  by  the  grave  of  this 
sleeping  warrior,  let  our  eyes  take  in  the  full-orbed 
character,  and  our  ears  be  filled  with  the  blended 
harmony  of  the  entire  life. 

We  cannot  better  close  these  remarks  than  by  quot- 
ing his  own  conception  of  the  true  end  and  value  of 
life: 

'"To  feel  that  to  live  is  Christ;  to  be  so  united  to 
Christ  that  his  work  is  our  work ;  his  will,  our  will  ; 
his  sufferings,  death,  and  sacrifice,  ours ;  iiis  self- 
denial,  love,  and  charity,  ours  ;  his  kingdom,  triumph, 
and  glory,  ours ;  to  feel  that  to  spend  and  be  spent  in 
his  service,  to  be  instant  in  season  and  out  of  season, 
in  winning  souls  to  Christ — is  our  life ;  to  feel  that 
pain  is  pleasure,  weariness  rest,  tribulation  glory,  and 
death  gain,  when  endured  as  good  soldiers  of  Christ; 
this  is  to  shine  with  a  glory  which  death  itself  shall 
not  eclipse,  but,  which  rising  in  a  higher  dawn,  in  a 
better  land,  in  a  hemisphere  encircled  by  the  eternal 
hills,  watered  by  the  river  of  life,  and  luxuriant  as  the 
Paradise  of  God,  shall  shine  more  and  more  through- 
out the  unending  day  of  our  ever  brightening  immor- 
tality." 


EXTRACTS 


FROM  SOME  OF 


MANY  LETTERS  RECEIVED. 


REV.  GEO.  HOWE,  D.  D. 

Columbia,  S.  C,  August  22d,  1873. 
"  An  untiring'  soul  that  served  our  grreat  Master, 
the  Church,  the  generation  in  which  he  Hved,  and  the 
country  in  which  his  lot  was  cast,  with  the  utmost 
earnestness  and  zeal,  has  passed  away  from  us  to  his 
everlasting  reward,  and  to  the  Saviour  whom  he 
loved.  We  shall  no  longer  hear  on  earth  the  elo- 
quent voice,  nor  behold  the  flashing  eye,  and  the  form 
which  seemed  to  rise  even  more  erect  and  tall,  nor 
listen  to  the  affluent  words  which  erst  poured  from 
his  lips  in  the  days  of  his  health  and  vigor,  when  he 
was  animated  with  the  deep  emotions  which  were 
burning  within  him.  We  shall  be  no  longer  stimu- 
lated, and  led  by  him  in  efforts  to  promote  the  pros- 
perity of  the  Church  ;  but  his  memory  will  be  dear 
to  us  who  were  his  cotemporaries  and  associates,  and 
who  will  soon  meet  him  in  that  blessed  presence  into 
which  he  has  entered." 


REV.  J.  B.  ADGER,  D.  D. 

Columbia,  S.  C. 
"  Dr.  Smyth  was  truly  a  great  man.  He  had  his 
weaknesses,  (and  who  has  not  ?)  but  they  were  only 
specks.  He  was  great  intellectually,  great  morally, 
and  great  religiously.  He  had  a  clear,  vigorous, 
active  understanding ;  a  warm,  brave  heart ;  a  strong 
will ;  an  eloquent  tongue  ;  his  industry  was  untiring  ; 
his  energy  never  flagged  ;  difficulties  never  appalled 
him  ;  opposition  only  made  him  the  more  determined 


to  carry  out  what  he  thought  was  right,  and  the 
greater  the  odds  against  him  in  any  struggle  for  what 
he  considered  to  be  the  truth,  the  higher  would  his 
courage  rise  to  do  all,  and  dare  all  for  the  vindication 
of  his  principles.  As  an  author,  he  has  certainly  not 
written  in  vain.  Such  works  as  '  Why  do  I  Live,' 
and  the  *  Well  in  the  Valley,'  are  both  books  that 
will  live.  But  nature  designed  him  for  an  orator,  and 
beyond  most  men  of  my  acquaintance  was  he  endowed 
richly  by  nature  with  all  the  qualifications  of  the  most 
consumate  orator.  He  was  not  so  great  in  the  pulpit, 
where  he  generally  (during  most  of  his  life)  read  his 
sermons,  as  he  was  in  the  lecture  room  ;  nor  was  he 
so  great  in  the  lecture  room  as  he  was  on  the  plat- 
form ;  nor  was  he  so  great  on  the  platform  as  he  was 
on  the  floor  of  the  deliberative  assembly ;  nor  was 
he  so  great  on  the  floor  of  the  deliberative  assembly 
when  he  was  on  the  strong  side,  as  when  he  was  on 
the  weak  one.  But  in  reply,  and  for  a  lost  cause,  as 
it  seemed,  and  when  there  was  no  hope  left  for  his  side 
apparently,  then  was  Dr.  Smyth  strong,  and  then  was 
he  dangerous  to  his  opponents. 

"  I  have  said  that  he  was  a  great  man  n-ligioitsly  ; 
1  mean  that  he  was  an  experienced  and  ripe  believer, 
an  old  and  long  tried  soldier  of  the  Cross,  who  had 
passed  through  fire  and  water,  both  oftentimes,  and 
been  hurt  by  neither.  He  was  saved  by  Hope  ;  he 
was  a  cheerful,  heartsome,  confiding  follower  of  his 
Master. 

"I  love  to  think  of  him  now  as  perfected;  and  1  love 
to  look  forward  to  reunion  with  him,  and  with  Thorn- 
well,  and  with  other  beloved  brethren,  all  of  us  per- 
fected forever.  What  a  great  and  goodly  company, 
when  it  is  all  filled  up,  one  by  one." 


REV.  D.  L.  BUTTOLPH. 

Marietta,  Ga.,  August  25th,  1873. 

"  The  sad  tidings  of  the  death  of  Dr.  Smyth  reached 
me  on  Saturday  last.  I  had  not  heard  of  his  illness, 
and  the  intelligence  startled  me  with  a  mournful  sur- 
prise. The  past  came  rushing  over  my  memory,  and 
scenes  and  incidents  which  were  growing  dim  and 
obscure,  suddenly  became  vivid  and  fresh  like  the 
occurrence  of  yesterday. 

"  No  living  person  has  exercised  so  great  an  influ- 
ence upon  my  whole  course  of  life  as  Dr.  Smyth. 
He  sought  me  out  a  stranger  in  Charleston,  when  I 
had  no  friends  and  but  few  acquaintances,  and  to  his 
kindness,  constant  and  unremitted,  I  owe,  under  God, 
all  I  am,  and  whatever  of  good  I  have  accomplished 
in  the  ministry. 

"  Had  it  not  been  for  his  counsel  and  advice,  I  do 
not  see  in  what  way,  or  by  what  means,  I  ever  should 
have  entered  the  Gospel  ministry.  I  loved  him  as  a 
father,  and  now  that  he  has  gone  to  his  rest  and 
reward,  he  rises  in  my  memory  as  the  best,  the  noblest 
man  I  ever  saw. 

"  If  ever  a  man  consecrated  his  all  to  Christ,  and 
spent  his  life  in  the  service  of  the  Master,  it  was  he. 

"With  what  accumulated  learning,  what  splendid 
eloquence,  what  zeal  and  enthusiasm  did  he  plead  for 
Jesus  and  His  kingdom,  before  disease  touched  his 
body,  and  how,  after  his  repeated  prostrations,  did  he 
toil  on  and  labor  on  with  untiring  devotion  to  the 
last.  I  confess  that  nothing  in  all  the  annals  of  mar- 
tyrdom which  I  have  read,  gives  me  such  an  idea  of 
true  Christian  heroism,  as  the  last  twenty  years  of 
Dr.   Smyth's   life.     But  he  has  gone,  and  the  world 


seems  poorer  to  me  than  it  was,  and  Heaven  appears 
all  the  brighter.  God  grant  that  I  may  meet  him 
above,  and  resume  an  intercourse  which  was  never 
darkened  for  an  instant  by  an  unpleasant  thought, 
or  word,  or  act.  I  shall  ever  treasure  his  memory 
with  the  profoundest  admiration  and  love." 


REV.  ROBERT  IRVINE.  D.  D. 

Augusta,  Ga.,  August  25,  1873. 

"  The  announcement  of  Dr.  Smyth's  death,  though 
not  surprising,  has  awakened  in  my  poor  heart  a 
pang  of  sorrow,  as  I  had  still  hoped  to  enjoy  the 
coveted  pleasure  and  privilege  of  at  least  another 
day  of  his  delightful  company. 

"  I  have  been  familiar  with  his  name  since  my  boy- 
hood, and  during  the  rage  of  the  Puseyite  contro- 
versy, from  1834  to  1 841,  every  one  in  our  Irish 
Church  was  compelled  to  take  some  interest  in  the 
question. 

"  One  of  the  first  books  I  read,  after  furnishing  my- 
self with  '  the  Tracts  for  the  Times,'  was  Dr.  Smyth's 
work  on  Episcopacy.  From  the  day  of  my  arrival 
in  British  America,  I  longed  to  meet  him  ;  but,  in  the 
Providence  of  Go4,  never  secured  the  opportunity 
until  your  kind  invitation  accorded  me  the  never-to- 
be-forgotten  privilege. 

"  I  regard  the  day  I  spent  with  Dr.  Smyth  in  driving 
around  Charleston  and  its  suburbs,  as  one  of  the  most 
delightful  I  have  ever  spent  since  my  arrival  on  the 
Continent.  The  quick,  active  and  undying  mind,  so 
copiously   stored   with    every    variety    of  useful,  but 


especially  of  theological  knowledge,  literally  amazed 
me,  whilst  its  working  powers  were  at  times  only 
hampered  by  an  enfeebled  articulation. 

"  One  thing  impressed  me  with  peculiar  force — it  was 
the  profound  interest  he  seemed  to  feel  in  his  congre- 
gation. Having  escorted  me  through  the  burying 
ground,  and  pointed  to  the  memorials  of  the  dead,  and 
read  many  of  the  inscriptions  on  the  tombstones, 
accompanying  each  with  some  remark  on  the  life  or 
death  of  the  departed,  he  said,  '  this  is  my  sleeping 
congregation;'  and  added  'I  know  I'll  meet  many  of 
them  in  Heaven."  On  reaching  the  gate  he  said,  '  we 
must  live  for  the  living.' 

"Then  his  interest  in  the  Church  (South)  was  no 
way  weakened  by  his  feeble  health.  Her  schemes  of 
Home  and  Foreign  Missions,  her  seminaries  for  the 
sons  of  the  prophets,  her  courts,  superior  and  infe- 
rior, her  law  and  order,  were  themes  on  which  his 
mind  seemed  to  dwell  with  intense  concern." 


REV.  DAVID  WILLS,  D.  D. 

Atlanta,  Ga.,  August  26th,  1873. 

"  I  have  just  learned  with  pain  of  the  death  of  my 
distinguished  friend,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Smyth.  This  sad 
event,  which  in  the  natural  course  of  things  might 
have  been  anticipated,  has  excited  profound  grief  in 
the  hearts  of  thousands  beyond  the  limits  of  the  city 
in  which  it  transpired.  No  minister  in  this  country 
was  more  widely  known  or  more  generally  revered, 
and  his  farne  as  a  theologian  and  preacher,,  had  even 
filled  the  old  world.     Dr.  Smyth  was   a  great  and  a 


good  man,  and  the  whole  Church  has  sustained  a 
severe  loss  in  his  departure.  All  Christian  denomina- 
tions will  mourn  his  death  and  cherish  his  memory, 
and  all  the  generations  of  the  righteous  will  read  his 
writings  with  profound  interest  and  delight. 

"I  have  known  Dr.  Smyth  intimately  since  1857, 
when  I  was  elected,  at  his  instance,  co-pastor  with  him, 
and  I  can  honestly  say  that  I  have  never  been  asso- 
ciated with  a  man  of  purer  heart,  more  conscientious 
convictions,  simpler  manners,  and  of  more  sincere  and 
faithful  friendship.  He  was  a  Christian  gentleman  in 
every  sense.  He  was  the  closest  student  I  have  ever 
known.  His  labors  were  herculean,  his  industry  in- 
defatigable. Twelve  o'clock  at  night  generally  found 
him  deeply  absorbed  in  his  studies.  He  possessed 
immense  mental  resources.  He  seemed  literally  to 
devour  the  vast  library  of  choice  volumes  which 
wealth  and  learning  enabled  him  to  procure.  We 
are  inclined  to  think  that  no  pastor  in  America  has 
ever  read  as  much,  written  as  much,  visited  his  people 
as  much,  preached  as  much,  and  prayed  as  much  as 
Dr.  Smyth.  In  these  respects  he  was  the  wonder  of 
the  age.  In  the  midst  of  protracted  and  prostra- 
ting bodily  afflictions,  he  achieved  prodigious  results 
through  the  pulpit  and  the  press. 

"  Dr.  Smyth  was  a  great  natural  orator,  and  at 
times  his  eloquence  was  absolutely  thrilling.  I  have 
never  heard  a  more  eloquent  man  in  the  Church 
courts,  and  on  special  occasions. 

"He  lived  in  constant  communion  with  God,  and 
his  soul  was  ever  alive  to  the  interests  of  the  Redeem- 
er's kingdom.  His  zeal  for  the  house  of  the  Lord 
consumed  his  life,  and  glowed  brightly  amid  the 
gloom  of  death." 


REV.  JOHN  D.  MATTHEWS,  D.  D. 

Louisville,  Kentucky,  iVugust  26th,  1873. 

"  I  saw  this  morning  the  brief  obituary  of  my  life-long 
friend  and  brother  beloved.  I  had  feared  this  result ; 
yet  his  letter  of  a  recent  date  indicated  that  his  gene- 
ral health  had  improved.  Such  a  death,  after  so  long 
service  in  his  Master's  vineyard,  was  to  be  expected. 
He  died  as  he  lived,  'in  the  harness,'  and  faithfully 
doing  his  duty.  '  He  rests  from  his  labors,  and  his 
works  do  follow  him.  He  died  in  the  Lord,  and  is 
blessed.' 

"  He  was  my  intimate  friend,  from  the  first  day  he 
came  to  Princeton  till  he  "fell  on  sleep."  I  have 
often  recalled  those  happy  and  peaceful  days  passed 
together  in  dear  old  Princeton,  and  the  frequent  inter- 
views we  have  had  in  the  past  years.  When  we  meet 
again,  I  believe  it  will  be  to  part  no  more  forever. 

"  He  was  one  of  nature's  noblemen  !  His  children 
will  'arise  and  bless  him  in  the  gates.'  His  people 
will  remember  him  to  love  and  honor  him.  Think  of 
him  as  happy  and  joyous,  free  from  sin,  and  disease, 
and  pain,  and  weeping,  climbing  the  sun-lit  steeps  of 
glory,  and  chanting  the  litany  of  free  grace — free 
grace  ! 

"  I  thank  God  for  the  life,  the  labors,  and  the  fitting 
death  of  such  a  friend,  classmate,  and  brother.  '  May 
my  last  end  be  like  his!'" 


REV.  B.  M.  PALMER,  D.  D. 

New  Orleans,  August  27th,  1873. 
"I  am  almost  afraid  to  approach  you  under  the  first 
shock  of  your  great  bereavement.     Yet,  how  can  I  be 
still,  when  so  many  memories  crowd  upon  me  of  him 


lO 


whom  the  Lord  has  taken?  Even  in  your  own  deso- 
lation, when  the  heart  yearns  to  be  let  alone  in  its 
sorrow,  there  will  be  a  melancholy  pleasure  in  know- 
ing how  many  all  over  the  land  sit  down  with  you  in 
the  ashes,  and  mourn  over  the  loss  which  is  theirs  too 
as  well  as  yours.  The  Church  can  sustain  no  greater 
blow  than  when  a  truly  good  man  falls;  and  tears  of 
honest  grief  must  be  shed  over  the  graves  of  those 
whose  lives  were  a  continual  exposition  of  the  pre- 
cepts of  virtue  and  the  maxims  of  religion.  It  would 
be  simple  mockery,  however,  to  pronounce  his  eulogy 
to  you,  who  knew  him  so  much  better  than  all  of  us; 
only,  this  much  you  will  suffer :  that  I  think  God  put 
a  two-fold  honor  upon  his  servant — first,  in  allowing 
him,  through  a  long  life  of  rare  industry,  to  preach 
with  eloquence  and  power  the  gospel  of  His  grace ; 
and  then,  at  its  close,  to  illuminate  his  own  teachings 
by  the  exhibition  of  those  passive  virtues  which  most 
adorn  the  Christian,  and  which  can  only  be  acquired 
under  the  discipline  of  sorrow  and  pain.  He  has,  then, 
been  a  double  witness  for  his  Master,  with  the  match- 
less eloquence  which  fell  from  his  lips,  that  seemed,  at 
times,  almost  inspired,  and  with  the  superior  eloquence 
of  a  mind  submissive  to  his  Father's  will. 

"  Rut  now  he  is  at  rest  from  both  ;  from  all  the  toil 
of  his  active  years,  and  from  all  the  weariness  and 
watching  of  his  later  years  of  patience.  Do  you  not 
love  him  enough  to  wish  him  joy  in  his  immortal 
ascension  ?  Is  it  not  the  property  of  true  love  to  be 
unselfish?  And  can  you  not  sink  the  egotism  of  your 
own  grief  in  a  generous  .sympathy  with  his  supreme 
happiness?  *  *  *  *  *  *  * 

"  *'  *  ^:  J  remember  a  sermon  of  his,  twenty 
years  agcx  in  which  he  .said  that  the  sweetest  concep- 


II 


tion  to  him  of  Heaven  was  its  Rest  !  How  much 
more  after  the  intervening  years  of  suffering  and 
weariness !  Let  me,  however,  restrain  this  loquacity. 
I  did  not  take  up  the  pen  to  utter  the  commonplaces 
of  sympathy,  only  to  say  that  I  mourn  with  you. 
Could  I  be  present,  I  would  not  utter  a  word,  but  in 
silence  share  your  sadness.  If  I  have  written  words, 
it  is  only  because  a  blank  sheet  would  have  repre- 
sented nothing."  ****** 


RF.V.  NEHEMIAH  ADAMS,  D.   D. 

Boston,  September  ist,  1873. 

"  Can  it  be  possible  that  dear  Dr.  Smyth  is  no  longer 
with  us  ?  I  had  had  no  intimation  that  his  end  was 
anticipated  when  I  received  the  intelligence  of  the 
funeral  services.  The  shock  to  me  was  great.  He 
was  a  large  part  of  Charleston  to  me  ever  since  I 
knew  him.  He  came  and  took  tea  with  us  early  after 
my  arrival  in  your  city  last  February.  I  was  im- 
pressed then,  as  before  and  since,  with  the  accuracy 
of  his  knowledge,  and  the  great  urbanity  of  his  man- 
ners. Two  drives  which  I  had  with  him  gave  me 
more  of  an  idea  of  Charleston  than  I  ever  had  :  one, 
to  see  the  jessamine  fields,  and  the  other  the  westerly 
part  of  your  city,  both  of  which  helped  me  to  com- 
plete my  image  of  your  beautiful  place. 

"He  had  a  rare  faculty  of  drawing  us  to  him  ;  there 
was  a  magnetism  about  him  which  few  possessed. 
His  method  of  praising  those  whom  he  approved, 
was  eminently  instructive,  so  discriminating,  so  well 
expressed,  that  his  words  were  incisive,  as  I  could 
illustrate  from  several  conversations  about  good  men. 


12 


'*  He  must  be  a  very  happy  spirit  in  the  company  of 
the  redeemed.  How  many  in  this  and  in  the  old  coun- 
try were  cherished  friends  of  his.  How  many  were 
loved  by  him  for  their  excellent  character,  which  he 
seemed  peculiarly  ready  to  appreciate. 

"  His  endurance  of  infirmity  so  long  was  a  triumph 
of  mind  over  matter.  None  could  see  it  without  rev- 
erencing him.  I  cannot  with  composure  think  of  his 
not  being  in  Charleston  ;  yet  I  feel  happy  to  think  of 
his  promotion  to  a  seat  of  glory  and  honor  and  immor- 
tality. Few  men  have  I  ever  met  abroad  whom  I 
loved  as  I  did  him.  I  always  expected  to  be  more 
sure  of  some  things  after  seeing  him  than  I  was  before. 
His  memory  will  be  a  constant  joy  to  me  as  often  as  I 
think  of  Charleston." 


REV.  L.  PIERCE,  D.  D. 

Columbus,  Ga.,  September  2d,  1873. 
"  Your  tender  allusions  to  your  venerable  father's 
expected  demise  was  assured  in  the  announcement  of 
it  five  days  afterwards.  In  the  language  of  nature  I 
offer  you  my  condolence  ;  but  I  was  struck  with  the 
first  impression  the  announcement  made  upon  me. 
It  was  that  after  a  man  has  served  his  generation  by 
the  will  of  God,  and  reached  a  point  where,  either  by 
old  age,  or  by  disease,  he  can  do  no  more,  death  is  not 
only  a  blessing,  but  a  privilege.  Your  father's  record 
is  written  in  lines  of  memorial  honors  won  on  the 
field  of  moral  warfare,  honors  imperishable  both  in 
Heaven  and  in  earth.  You  can  only  mourn  in  view 
of  worldly  ties.  On  the  immortal  ties  of  life  hang 
no  gloomy  clouds." 


13 


REV.  CHARLES  A.   STILLMAX,  D.  D. 

Tuscaloosa,  Alabama,  September  12th,  1873. 
"  I  never  can  forget  his  faithful  and  powerful 
preaching,  nor  his  instrumentality  in  leading  me  out 
of  darkness  and  doubt,  and  into  the  Saviour's  fold, 
for  he  sought  me  while  I  lingered  outside  the  Zion 
of  God,  and  so  kindly  instructed  and  encouraged 
me.  And  then  he  helped  me  through  the  embar- 
rassing obstacles  in  my  way  to  the  ministry;  he 
watched  over  my  studies,  and  then  regarded  my  early 
efforts  with  parental  indulgence,  and  continued  to 
express  so  much  interest  in  every  step  of  my  minis- 
terial career.  Never  can  I  forget  him,  or  cease  to 
cherish  his  memory,  and  I  may  say  many  similar 
things  of  our  whole  family  and  their  relations  to  him. 
I  do  not  speak  of  his  great  learning  and  noble  efforts 
for  the  truth,  and  the  large  and  distinguished  sphere 
he  filled  in  the  Church,  these  are  topics  for  others 
to  dwell  upon  ;  I  claim  a  nearer  place,  and  ask  to 
lay  on  his  tomb  the  tribute  of  love  and  gratitude  due 
from  a  favored  and  loving  son  to  a  loving  and  faith- 
ful spiritual  father." 


REV.  THOMAS  HOUSTON,  D.  D. 

Knockbrackex  Manse,  Belfast,  Ireland, 

September  12th,  1873. 
*  *  *  "  Dr.  Smyth  was  spared  till  all  Jiis  work 
was  done  on  earth,  and  till  God's  good  work  was  ac- 
complished in  him,  and  then  he  was  taken  to  reign 
with  Christ,  after  he  had  suffered  with  Him  and  for 
Him.      His  works  will    follow  him,  and   the  fruits  of 


H 


his  labors,  both  from  the  pulpit  and  the  press,  will 
long  hence  redound  in  honor  to  Christ  and  a  blessing 
to  the  Church. 

"  When  I  reflect  upon  the  tender,  lengthened  in- 
tercourse that  I  was  privileged  with  Dr.  Smyth,  and 
think  that  this  is  now,  as  far  as  earth  is  concerned, 
at  an  end,  I  assure  you  that  I  feel  a  sense  of  deep 
loneliness,  and  I  can,  therefore,  cordially  sympathize 
with  his  bereaved  famil}'.  This  intercourse  com- 
menced when  he  was  a  boy  in  the  household  of  his 
excellent  parents,  and  when  he  was  under  my  care  as 
a  pupil  in  one  of  our  best  educational  establishments 
in  Belfast.  At  that  early  age,  he  gave  marked  indica- 
tions of  many  of  the  high  mental  and  moral  quali- 
ties, for  which,  in  future  life,  he  was  so  distinguished. 
He  was  systematic  in  the  arrangements  of  his  time 
and  studies,  ardent  in  the  pursuit  of  knowledge,  as 
he  readily  distanced  competitors  in  the  race  for  aca- 
demical distinctions.  Above  all,  I  marked  in  him 
the  manifestations  of  deep,  early  piety,  as  I  admired 
greatly  his  gentle,  amiable,  loving  disposition.  Hav- 
ing been  led,  in  the  grace  and  providence  of  my  Lord 
and  Master,  to  originate  a  Juvenile  Missionary  Asso- 
ciation, and  some  other  schemes  of  Christian  benevo- 
lence, which  were  then  rare  among  students  and 
members  of  the  Church  generally,  Dr.  Smyth,  then 
in  the  opening  vigor  of  his  mental  powers,  threw 
himself  into  them  with  all  his  heart,  and  rendered 
mc  and  the  cause  most  efficient  service.  At  this 
long  distance  of  time,  I  have  a  vivid  remembrance  of 
our  consultations  on  subjects  connected  with  the 
advancement  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ,  and  of  some 
of  the  thrilling  speeches  which  he  spoke  at  our  pub- 
lic meetings,  convened   for   this  object.     1  may   not, 


15 


however,  farther  intrude  upon  your  time  and  feelings 
by  the  mention  of  reminiscences,  which  are  precious 
to  me.  While,  with  you  and  your  family,  I  mourn 
that  that  endeared  communion  on  earth  with  one 
so  worthy  is  now  at  an  end,  I  rejoice  that  he  has 
received  the  Crown  of  Life,  and  that  he  now  sees 
unspeakably  more  of  the  Master's  glory  than  he 
could  ever  behold  on  earth.  His  memory  will  ever 
be  fragrant  and  precious  to  me  in  no  ordinary  degree." 


REV.  THOMAS  HOUSTON,  U.  D. 

Knockukacken  Manse,  Belfast,  Ireland, 

September  23d,  1873. 

"  Mr.  Ellison  A.  Smyth  :  My  Dear  Sir — With  your 
excellent  father,  I  had  in  early  life  the  most  endeared 
intimacy,  and  I  regarded  it  as  a  peculiar  privilege  to 
be  honored  so  many  years  with  his  friendship,  and  to 
have  been  favored  with  his  correspondence.  I  ever 
admired  his  earnest,  devoted  and  loving  spirit,  and  I 
can  truly  rejoice  in  spirit  in  the  manifold  token  of  his 
Master's  covenant  favor  towards  him,  in  the  labor 
which  He  enabled  him  to  do,  for  the  honor  of  His 
name,  and  the  acceptance  which  He  gave  him  with 
His  people  in  many  places. 

"  The  great  trials  through  which  your  father  was 
called  to  pass  of  late  years,  were,  I  cannot  doubt, 
sent  to  wean  him  from  earth,  to  prepare  him  for  the 
Heavenly  state,  and  to  make  his  rest  in  glory  more 
sweet  as  he  reached  it  after  much  weakness  and  suf- 
fering. Few  things,  in  my  view,  can  be  more  striking 
and  attractive  than  to  mark,  in  the  last  twenty  years 


i6 


of  your  father's  life — since  the  time  in  which  he  was 
first  struck  with  paralysis — his  earnest  devotedness 
to  the  service  of  the  Master  whom  he  dearly  loved, 
and  the  singular  grace  given  him  to  do  so  much  for 
His  cause  and  Church,  when  he  was  so  tried  with 
public  calamities,  and  with  physical  weakness.  Truly 
as  his  day  was,  so  was  gracious  strength  given  him. 
His  sun  went  down  calmly,  and  with  no  ordinary 
splendor;  and  long,  long  will  his  memory  diffuse  a 
rich  spiritual  fragrance. 

"  Let  me  assure  you  that  1  shall  ever  reflect  on  it 
as  a  singular  privilege  to  myself,  that  I  occupied  a 
place  in  your  father's  thoughts  and  affections,  in  the 
last  days  of  his  earthly  life,  and  that  among  the  last 
expressions  of  tender  affection  to  which  he  gave 
utterance,  were  those  which  were  contained  in  the 
letter,  which  he  dictated  to  you.  I  feel  that  I  am 
thereby  laid  under  deeper  obligations  ever  to  cherish 
his  memory,  cordially  to  love  his  family,  and,  above 
all,  to  seek  to  walk  in  the  spirit,  which  in  his  fond 
partiality  he  ascribed  to  me.  I  greatly  desire  that  I 
may  be  enabled  through  grace  to  follow  him,  as  he 
followed  Christ,  and  as  he  now,  through  faith  and 
patience,  inherits  the  promises." 


REV.  WM.  HAMILTON,  D.  D. 

NORTHFIELD,  SUMMIT  Co.,  OhIO,  Oct.  6th,   1 8/3. 

To  the  Family  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Smyth,  D.  D.  : 

"  Dear  Friends — You  may,  perhaps,  have  heard 
your  excellent  and  now  lamented  father  mention  the 
name  of  an  old  Belfast  classmate,  VVm.  Hamilton. 
You  will,  therefore,  I  hope,  excuse  the  intrusion  of 
this  letter. 


17 


"  The  Rev.  Dr.  Alexander  Macklin,  of  the  Scotch 
Church,  in  Philadelphia ;  the  Rev.  Dr.  Blackwood, 
of  the  same  city ;  the  Rev.  James  Lewers,  once  a 
pastor  near  Charleston,  were  our  contemporaries.  Dr. 
Blackwood  and  I  are  now  the  only  remaining  ones  of 
those  who  emigrated. 

"  Nearly  thirty  years  ago,  I  saw  Dr.  Smyth  in  Bel- 
fast. He  had  then  published  several  important  works, 
chiefly  on  church  government.  I  had  the  pleasure  of 
receiving  him  as  a  guest  at  my  house  in  New  Bruns- 
wick, New  Jersey,  about  the  year  i860.  He  had  then 
been  stricken  with  partial  paralysis,  but  his  mind  had 
lost  none  of  its  enthusiasm  or  activity. 

"  Since  then  we  have  never  met,  but  we  often  ex- 
changed correspondence.  I  have  before  me  now  on 
my  desk  three  of  my  old  friend's  precious  letters. 
The  first  was  written  in  1869,  with  a  firm,  bold  hand  ; 
the  second,  dated  in  1871,  exhibits  signs  of  age  and 
feebleness  ;  the  third,  traced  with  a  lead  pencil  is  very 
shaky  and  irregular.  It  seems  dated  in  February  of 
the  present  year. 

"The  second  is  much  more  spirrtual  than  the  first. 
The  third,  in  its  simple,  earnest,  kindly  advices  to 
myself,  and  its  fervid  aspirations  after  Heaven,  gives 
most  interesting  and  comforting  evidences,  that,  with 
failing  powers,  the  writer  was  ripening  for  glory. 

"  My  first  recollections  of  your  father  go  back  to 
our  school  days.  We  read  Horace  and  Homer  to- 
gether in  the  schools  of  the  Royal  Belfast  Institute. 
I  have  a  mental  daguerreotype  of  my  class-mate  taking 
short  notes,  in  very  small  blank  books,  which  he  car- 
ried in  his  vest  pocket,  so  early  did  his  character  for 
learned  research  begin  to  assert  itself. 

"  It  was  to  me  a  matter  of  deep  regret  that  Dr. 


Smyth  suffered  so  severely  during  the  war  by  the  loss 
of  property.  Perhaps,  after  all,  it  was  the  discipline 
my  dear  friend  required,  to  prepare  him  for  a  world 
of  unbroken  happiness.  What  does  it  now  signify 
to  him  that  he  died  in  comparative  poverty  ?  He 
was  heavily  pressed  by  great  public  and.  private 
calamities,  but  he  still  retained  the  love  of  Jesus.  He 
still  felt  an  ardent  desire,  and  still  was  permitted, 
with  some  of  his  once  pre-eminent  ability,  to  preach 
the  Gospel ;  and  he  v/as  still  busy  with  his  pen  in 
literary  labors  on  religious  subjects.  He  now  rests 
in  peace  after  all  his  troubles." 

^c  ^  ;}:  >j<  ;J;  :): 

"  Sincerely  sympathising  in  your  loss,  which  indeed 
is  also  my  own,  I  remain  in  the  concluding  words  in 
one  of  your  father's  letters,  his  'quondam  class-mate,' 
and,  for  his  sake,  your  sincere  friend  in  the  bonds  of 
the  Gospel."  WILLIAM  HAMILTON. 


REV.  G.  R.  BRACKETT. 

August  24th,  1873. 

"  I  did  not  know  how  much  I  was  leaning  upon 
your  dear  father,  until  he  was  taken  from  us.  It  is 
not  generally  known  that  the  'improvement'  in  my 
preaching,  which  I  have  heard  frequently  remarked, 
during  the  past  year,  is  due  entirely  to  his  sugges- 
tions. He  has  done  more  for  me,  in  this  respect,  than 
the  Theological  Seminary." 


19 


MR.  G.  J.  A.  COULSON. 

New  York,  17th  September,  1873. 

"What  a  royal  inheritance  you  have  in  the  midst  of 
your  tears.  The  tried  warrior,  who  has  '  fought  the 
good  fight  and  kept  the  faith,'  has  suddenly  been  pro- 
moted to  the  crown  by  his  great  Captain.  You  know 
he  wears  it,  and  you  would  not  uncrown  him  if  you 
could.  His  life  of  work  and  warfare  is  a  large  part  of 
his  Church's  history.  You  weep  for  yourself^  not  for 
him,  and  you  find  comfort  in  affliction." 


REV.  JOHN  B.  ADGER,  D.  D. 

BoscoBEL,  August  22d,  1873. 

"  I  have  not  one  thought  that  is  sad  or  gloomy 
respecting  such  a  death  as  Brother  Smyth's,  and  I 
cannot  speak  to  you  in  any  other  language  but  that 
of  congratulation.  *  *  *  T\iQ.  measure  of  his 
days,  all  things  considered,  was  full.  He  had  lived 
long,  for  he  had  lived  fast.  He  had  accomplished  a 
great  work.  It  was  time  for  him  to  enter  into  rest. 
He  had  worn  himself  out.  His  mission  was  finished. 
And  now  he  is  at  rest — no  more  weariness,  or  pain,  or 
trouble,  or  sorrow.  And  now  also  he  is  perfect.  With 
the  body,  every  imperfection  drops,  and  he  is  now 
complete  in  the  image  of  his  Lord,  and  waits  for  us  on 
the  other  side. 

"  What  a  goodly  company  are  gathering  in  the  upper 
sanctuary,  and  how  soon  we  shall  all  be  gone  hence ! 
If  we  can  but  attain  as  they  have  done !  Naught  in 
the  world  besides  is  worth  livinsf  for. 


20 


ROBERT  ADGER,  ESQ. 

Written  from  Cressox,  Pa.,  Aug.  26th,  1873. 

"I  can  contemplate  the  removal  of  Dr.  Smyth  if  not 
with  joy,  at  least  without  grief  To  him  the  change 
has  been  one  of  unspeakable  happiness.  After  a  life 
spent  usefully  in  his  Master's  service  on  earth,  with 
all  his  pains  and  sufferings  over,  he  has  entered  into 
rest,  and  his  works  do  follow  him.  Glorious  reward  ! 
Why  should  we  mourn  for  him  ?  Often  in  looking  at 
him,  have  I  wondered,  with  all  his  terrible  sufferings 
and  infirmities,  how  uniform  and  remarkable  was  his 
strong  and  unvarying  assurance  of  faith.  Now  in 
rich  fruition  he  enjoys  his  reward  and  sees  face  to  face 
the  glory  of  his  Saviour.  How  can  we  grieve  for 
him  ?  Would  that  I  too  could  feel  his  uudoubting 
assurance,  that  one  day,  perhaps  not  far  distant,  we 
may  all  meet  with  him  and  those  dear  ones  who  have 
gone  before  him  in  the  mansions  of  rest  in  Heaven." 


J.  ELLISON  ADGER,  ESQ. 

Written  from  Hot  Springs,  Va., 

August  24th,  1873. 

"  A  few  moments  since  the  mail  from  Charleston 
brought  the  tidings  of  the  death  of  Dr.  Smyth,  which 
has  taken  me  greatly  by  surprise.  As  while  I  well 
knew  he  was  failing  fast,  and  that  it  was  only  a  ques- 
tion of  time  in  his  case,  I  was  not  at  all  prepared  to 
hear  of  its  rapid  termination.  *  *  *  * 

"  It  has  pleased  our  Father  to  take  him  more  quickly 
and  thus  spare  his  aged  servant  the  affliction  of  a 
lingering  helplessness,  which,  even  if  unaccompanied 
by  pain  would,  amount  in  his  case,  to  a  punishment 
which  he  would  find  it  hard  to  bear,  and  which  would 
indeed  be  a  source  of  cfreat  distress  to  all  about  him. 


21 


"  He  has  been  removed  from  a  life  of  pain  and  suffer- 
ing and  great  and  sore  disappointment,  to  one  of  un- 
speakable bliss  and  happiness,  where  he  will  wear  a 
crown  of  many,  many  stars." 


Floral  College,  No.  Ca.,  Sept.  8th,  1873. 
'^August  will  ever  be  to  me  a  sad  month — my 
precious  mother  and  my  sympathizing,  spiritual 
father  both  passed  into  glory  on — I  believe — the 
same  day  of  the  month,  though  different  years.  I 
would  not  call  them  back,  if  I  could,  to  suffer,  toil  and 
grieve,  as  all  of  us  who  are  left  have  to  do ;  even  the 
wish  would  be  selfish.  But,  oh,  how  I  shall  ever 
miss  them  ;  their  advice,  love  and  sympathy  I  counted 
among  my  chief  blessings,  and  cannot  endure  the 
thought  that  it  is  all  lost  to  me.  I  do  not,  my  dear 
friend,  expect  to  say  anything  to  mitigate  your 
sorrow,  it  would  be  presumption  in  me  to  try,  but  as 
I  would,  if  still  living  in  Charleston,  have  mingled  my 
tears  with  yours  over  his  grave,  permit  me  to  assure 
you  and  his  children  of  my  sincere  and  loving 
sympathy.  My  affection  for  Dr.  Smyth  was  that  of 
a  child  for  a  father.  While  he  lived,  he  knew  I 
venerated  him,  and  he  now  knows  that  he  guided  my 
idolized  father's  steps  to  his  Saviour,  strengthened 
my  mother's  faith,  and  was  of  more  use  to  my 
brother  and  myself  than  words  can  express.  Did  I 
write  zvas,  his  influence  still  exists ;  the  recollection 
of  words  that  he  uttered,  acts  that  he  performed  and 
afflictions  he  endured  with  a  martyr-like  spirit,  will 
help  us  to  fight  the  good  fight  and  keep  the  faith 
until  our  course  is  also  finished.  God  grant  that  we 
too  may  have  the  '  crown  of  life.'  " 


22 


W.  DALTON  WARREN,  ESQ. 

Pendleton,  September  14,  1873. 
"  Dr.  Smyth  was  a  war-worn  soldier  of  his  heavenly- 
King  ;  covered  with  the  honorable^wounds  of  a  long 
earthly  warfare,  and  fell,  not  in  defeat,  but  rose  to 
Heaven  on  the  shout  of  victory,  to  be  told  by  Him, 
he  had  so  long  and  so  faithfully  served,  "Well  done 
good  and  faithful  servant,  enter^thou  into  the  joys  of 
thy  Lord!"  Then  no  more  warfare,  no  more  sorrow, 
no  more  sickness,  no  more  death.  Henceforth,  there 
is  laid  up  for  him  a  crown  of  everlasting  rejoicing." 


Flat  Rock,  August  26th,  1873. 

"In  mysterious  wisdom,  yet,  we  know,'in  love  to  all 
affected  thereby, ^Dr.  Smyth  has  been  caused  to  toil 
a  painful  road  ere  he  reached  the  mansion^of  rest  pre- 
pared for  him.     Now  he  is  resting. 

"  No  bitter  tears  can  we  shed  for  him.  We  will  miss 
him,  oh  so  much  !  My  loss  is  great !  He  has  ever  been 
to  me  a  most  beloved  friend  and  pastor.  Not  a  ripple 
has  ever  disturbed  our  friendship.  Never  can  I  for- 
get his  tender  sympathy,  wise  counsel  and  real  com- 
fort, when  again  and  again  I  have  been  caused  to  pass 
under  the  rod.  The  cup  of  sorrow  was  changed  into 
one  of  thanksgiving  when  held  up  by  him,  my  dear 
pastor  and  friend,  in  the  clear  light  of  Jesus'  love,  and 
the  wonderful  ingredients  pointed  out  by  his  skilful, 
loving  analysis,  and  its  adaptation  to  my  need.  Oh 
what  a  crown  is  now  his,  beaming  with  bright  stars, 
and  the  number  will  be  ever  increasing,  for  he, 
although   dead,  yet  speaketh  to  hundreds ;  and  no 


^3 


limit  is  there  to  those  thirsty  ones,  who  at  his  '  Well 
in  the  Valley  '  may  be,  and  I  pray  will  be,  taught  to 
drink  of  those  waters,  which  when  once  tasted  in  our 
souls,  we  thirst  no  more." 


REV.  G.  R.  BRACKETT. 

Charleston,  December  22d,  1873. 
Mr.  y.  Adgcr  Smyth  : 

My  Dear  Sir:  Your  kind  note  expressing,  in 
behalf  of  your  family  circle,  the  gratification  afforded 
by  my  unworthy  ^'''  Memorial "  of  your  deceased 
father,  and  requesting  a  copy  of  the  same  for 
family  use,  is  received.  In  reply,  let  me  thank  you 
for  the  generous  charity  that  covers  its  manifold 
defects,  and  accept  the  humble  urn,  a  sincere  heart 
has  placed  upon  his  grave,  in  lieu  of  a  monument, 
which  only  a  genius,  like  his  own,  is  competent  to 
rear,  and  which  would  be  worthy  of  him.  You  are 
aware  that  it  was  with  no  affectation  of  modesty  that  I 
shrank  from  taking  up  my  feeble  pencil  to  reproduce 
such  a  portrait,  and  would  gladly,  for  your  sakes,  as 
well  as  for  reverence  for  his  memory,  have  remitted 
the  difficult  task  to  other  hands.  But  I  feel  that  I 
shall  have  occasion  to  rejoice  as  long  as  I  live,  that 
this  "  labor  of  love  "  has  fallen  to  my  hands,  and  that 
I  have  experienced  the  powerful  inspiration  which 
comes  from  a  life  so  full  of  moral  beauty  and  gran- 
deur. It  may  well  date  a  new  era  in  my  life,  which 
must  ever  be  indebted  to  him,  for  the  quickening 
impulse  he  has  given  to  the  noblest  and  manliest 
energies.      Whatever   of  excellencies  my  imperfect 


24 


portraiture  may  possess,  they  are  owing  more  to  the 
inspiration  of  the  subject,  than  to  the  skill  of  the 
artist.  It  was  my  aim  to  avoid,  as  far  as  possible,  the 
language  of  fulsome  eulogy,  and  do  simple  justice  to 
the  character  and  labors  of  a  great  and  good  man, 
whose  exceeding  goodness  was  the  crown  of  his 
greatness.  I  have  never  known  a  man  who  carried 
a  heart  so  large  and  so  full  of  tender  emotions,  in  the 
bosom  of  so  great  an  intellect,  which  was  itself  a 
library  of  learning.  The  tendency  of  a  high  degree 
of  mental  culture  and  excessive  study,  to  dry  up  the 
springs  of  emotion,  and  to  chill  all  the  sweet  and 
tender  amenities  of  the  heart,  was  so  completely 
counteracted  in  the  case  of  Dr.  Smyth,  that  it 
deserves  to  be  noted  as  one  of  his  distinguishing 
characteristics.  His  genial  piety  shone  like  a  pleasant 
smile,  through  the  sterner  features  of  his  mind,  so 
that  no  one  could  know  him  without  loving  him. 
The  workings  of  his  mind  could  no  more  be  analyzed, 
without  encountering  everywhere  the  play  of  his 
loving,  Christ-like  affections,  than  the  body  could  be 
dissected  without  touching  at  every  point  a  vein  or 
an  artery. 

I  must  not  forget  to  express  my  thanks  to  your 
family,  for  the  unrestricted  liberty  allowed  me  in  the 
use  of  your  father's  autobiographical  papers,  and  the 
unlimited  confidence  reposed  in  me,  in  committing 
them  to  my  hand.  I  need  not  say  how  sacredly  I 
have  held  this  trust. 

The  manuscript  will  be  placed  at  your  disposal. 
Sincerely  yours, 

G.  R.  BRACKETT. 


APPENDIX. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church, 
held  on  Sunday,  27th  November,  1870,  the  following 
letter  was  presented : 

Charleston,  S.  C,  November  i8th,  1870. 

To  the  Session  and  Male  Pezv  Holders 

of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  : 

My  Dear  Brethren  :  About  this  time  in  Novem- 
ber, 1 83 1,  I  arrived  in  Charleston  from  Princeton 
Theological  Seminary,  in  accordance  with  an  invita- 
tion from  you  to  preach  in  your  then  vacant  Church. 

In  April  of  the  following  year,  I  received  a  unani- 
mous call  to  remain  with  you  and  become  your  pas- 
tor. Since  that  time  I  have  lived  and  labored  among 
you  as  the  spiritual  bride  of  my  youth,  being  then 
twenty-three  years  of  age,  in  all  mutual  love  and 
assiduity  of  devoted  service  to  promote  your  pros- 
perity and  happiness.  We  have  seen  together  many 
seasons  of  deep  affliction  and  bereavement.  Of  the 
seven  hundred  and  seventy-one  members  added  to 
the  Church  during  my  ministry,  but  a  few  abide  in 
the  flesh,  or  remain  with  us.  Of  a  glorious  company 
of  them — fathers,  mothers,  and  children — we  can 
rejoice  in  believing  that  they  are  now  members  of  the 
Church  triumphant  in  Heaven,  with  the  four  beloved 
pastors  and  all  their  flock  who  had  preceded  them. 

We  have  had,  too,  our  many  times  of  refreshing 
from  the  presence  of  the  Lord,  when  songs  of  re- 
joicing over  new  born  souls  have  been  heard  in  our 
assemblies  and  dwellings,  and  among  the  angels  of 
God.     We  have  had  also  the  happiness  of  seeing  our 


Church  spread  her  roots,  and  spring  up  in  vigorous 
trees,  and  impart  life  to  many  other  Churches  through- 
out the  land.  And  our  Church  is  still  showing  the 
signs  not  only  of  leaves,  but  of  buds  and  fruits, 
springing  up  after  the  howling  wintry  desolation  of 
war,  and  various  trials  and  losses,  she  has  made 
steady  growth,  and  has  attained  to  a  condition  of 
unity,  peace,  concord,  and  energetic  efficiency  seldom 
exceeded  in  her  most  flourishing  days.  Seldom  have 
we  passed  a  communion  season  without  some  addi- 
tions ;  and  even  during  my  recent  silence  and  ab- 
sence, a  goodly  number  of  the  children  of  the  Church 
have  been  added  to  our  Christian  family.  Well  offi- 
cered by  honored  brethren,  both  in  the  temporal  and 
spiritual  government  of  the  Church ;  full  of  love 
towards  myself  and  each  other,  with  loving  hopes 
and  prayers  for  my  continuance  with  you ;  unsolic  - 
ited  by  any  intimation  from  you,  I  now,  with  many 
tears  and  prayers  for  self-sacrificing  grace,  send  you 
my  resignation  of  your  call  and  of  my  pastoral  office, 
and  request  you  to  join  me  in  seeking,  in  the  lawful 
order  prescribed  by  Christ  in  his  spiritual  courts,  a 
divorce  of  our  marriage  union  ;  and  to  unite  with  me 
in  opening  the  way  for  the  formation  of  such  another 
holy  and  happy  union  with  your  young  and  lovely 
Church,  as  may  bring  to  it  the  consecrated  heart,  life, 
and  activities  of  a  suitable  pastor. 

I  had  formed  this  conclusion  while  absent  in 
Virginia,  but  thought  it  best  to  return  and  make  an 
experiment  among  you  of  my  vocal  powers  ;  and 
although  in  my  efforts  in  public  speaking  during  the 
last  week,  during  the  Sabbath  communion  services, 
and  again  in  ordination  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gowan  on 
Sabbath  evening,  I  felt  more  encouraged  than  I  had 


previously  done,  yet  on  learning  at  the  Court  of 
Deacons  last  evening  that  your  arrangement  for  the 
supply  of  the  pulpit  was  closed,  and  another  would 
become  necessary,  I  have  concluded  that  this  is  the 
best  and  proper  occasion  to  present  this  my  letter  of 
resignation. 

With  heartfelt  prayers  to  Christ,  our  Shepherd  and 
Bishop,  that  He  would  look  upon  your  flock  with 
sympathy  and  kindness,  and  guide  you  to  a  pastor 
after  his  own  heart ;  and  with  soul,  heart  and  mind, 
as  ever,  ready  to  be  offered  a  living  sacrifice  upon  the 
service  of  your  faith  and  love,  were  it  the  Lord's  will 
to  grant  me  continued  ability, 

I  remain  yours  in  the  Lord, 

THOMAS  SMYTH. 

The  following  preamble  and  resolutions  were 
then  unanimously  adopted  : 

The  letter  of  our  Pastor  announcing  that  his  bodily 
infirmity  will  prevent  his  further  ministrations  among 
us,  and  his  desire  consequent  thereon  to  dissolve  the 
Pastoral  relations,  which  have  bound  us  together  for 
so  many  years,  fills  us  with  no  ordinary  emotions. 

Beyond  the  memory  of  the  large  majority  of  our 
congregation,  he  has  borne  the  sacred  office  over  this 
flock,  and  broken  to  us  the  bread  of  life — our  parents, 
our  brethren,  our  children  under  his  ministry  have 
been  received  into  the  fold  of  Christ.  And  under  the 
strong  influence  of  affection  and  of  habit,  we  have 
looked  up  to  him  as  our  spiritual  father.  The 
blessing  of  the  Spirit  of  God  has  been  richly  bestowed 
upon  his  ministry,  and  he  has  been  made  the  instru- 
ment of  gathering  many  into  the  Church  of  Christ. 


We  had  fain  hoped  that  he  would,  to  the  end, 
have  continued  the  master-laborer  in  this  vineyard  of 
the  Lord.  Taking  this  as  his  first  charge,  for  nearly 
forty  years,  of  uninterrupted  ministry,  he  has  enjoyed 
our  confidence,  and  has  won  and  secured  for  himself 
our  respect,  our  veneration  and  our  love. 

But  the  hand  of  God  has  been  laid  upon  him,  and 
whilst  our  hearts  bleed  under  the  stroke,  we  recog- 
nize the  act  of  an  all-wise  and  beneficent  Father. 

Even  so,  however,  we  are  yet  reluctant  to  sever  the 
ties  which  have  existed  so  long  between  our  Pastor 
and  ourselves,  and  have  bound  us  so  happily 
together.  But  we  feel  that  our  Pastor  in  suggesting 
himself,  that  they  should  be  dissevered,  has  recognized 
an  imperative  and  overwhelming  necessity.  And  in 
all  affectionate  tenderness,  we  yield  to  his  conviction 
of  duty,  and  with  hearts  big  with  emotion,  we  accept 
his  resignation,  but  as  some  relief  to  the  feelings  that 
oppress  us,  we  express  the  sense  of  our  bereavement, 

Be  it,  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  in  the  resignation  of  our  Pastor,  the 
Rev.  Thomas  Smyth,  D.  D.,  the  Second  Presbyterian 
Church  has  met  with  a  heavy  bereavement  and  an 
irreparable  loss 

Resolved,  That  no  influence  could  induce  us  now  to 
part  from  our  loved  and  venerated  Pastor,  save  the 
desire  expressed  by  himself,  and  in  obedience  to  the 
counsel  given  by  himself  to  the  flock  whom  he  has 
taught  and  loved  so  long. 

Resolved,  That  in  retiring  from  the  active  duties  of 
this  pastorate,  he  carries  with  him  that  devoted  love 
and  deep  veneration  which  we  have  borne  for  him  for 
so  many  years,  many  of  us  during  the  period  of  our 


lives  ;  that  he  will  have  our  constant  prayers  at  the 
throne  of  grace  that  he  may  be  restored  to  the  full 
enjoyment  of  his  health,  strength  and  every  faculty, 
so  that  he  may  yet  again  return  to  his  place  over  his 
people. 

Resolved,  That  he  be  unanimously  elected  our  Pastor 
Emeritus,  and  that  he  be  earnestly  entreated  to  continue 
and  to  increase  his  pastoral  visits  among  our  congre- 
gation, so  that  at  our  homes  and  around  our  firesides 
we  may  still  enjoy  the  ministrations,  and  be  blessed 
with  the  teachings  of  this  faithful  servant  of  God. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  this  preamble  and  resolu- 
tions be  furnished  to  the  Session  of  this  Church,  with 
the  request  that  they  be  laid  before  the  Presbytery  at 
its  next  session. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  the  same  be  furnished  to 
the  "  Southern  Presbyterian,"  for  publication. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  this  preamble  and  resolu- 
tions be  presented  to  our  Pastor. 

CHARLES  H.  SIMONTON,  President 
C.  P.  Frazer,  Secretary  pro  tem. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Session  of  the  Second  Presby- 
terian Church,  held  on  the  evening  of  November  28th, 
1870,  a  letter  of  resignation  from  the  Pastor,  Rev.  Dr. 
Smyth,  and  the  action  of  the  Corporation  thereon, 
was  brought  before  the  meeting.  On  motion  the 
following  minute  was  unanimously  adopted. 

This  Session  cannot  find  words  to  express  the  deep 
disappointment  with  which  they  learn  that  Dr.  Smyth 
has  felt  constrained  by  his  continued  infirmities,  to 
resign  the    charge   he   has    so   ably  and   devotedly 


filled  for  more  than  a  third  of  this  century.  During 
the  whole  period  of  his  absence  in  the  efforts  to 
recuperate  his  powers,  they  were  sustained  in  the 
separation,  by  the  thought,  that  in  answer  to  the 
prayers  daily  ascending  in  his  behalf,  from  their  family 
altars  and  the  sanctuary,  he  would  be  restored  to 
them  with  his  wonted  health  and  abilty. 

And  now,  although  these  hopes  are  well  nigh 
blasted,  they  yet  feel  that  the  great  head  of  the 
Church,  if  it  be  His  will,  can  pronounce  the  word 
"  Ephphatha,"  and  enable  him,  for  many  years  to 
come,  to  proclaim  the  Gospel  of  Christ. 

Until  their  Pastor  is  summoned  to  his  reward,  they 
will  to  this  end  both  hope  and  pray ;  and  at  the  same 
time  acknowledge  with  gratitude,  the  mercy  which 
spares  to  them  his  presence,  his  blessing,  his  counsel 
and  his  prayers.     Be  it,  therefore. 

Resolved,  That  this  Session  heartily  sympathizes 
with  the  Congregation  in  the  resolutions  they  have 
so  feelingly  adopted,  and  gratefully  avail  themselves 
of  the  privilege  afforded  them  of  continuing  their 
intimate  and  endearing  relations  with  their  "  Pastor 
Emeritus." 

Resolved,  That  Dr.  Smyth  be  requested  to  meet 
with  this  Session  whenever  convened,  and,  until  some 
other  Pastor  is  elected  by  the  Congregation,  to 
Moderate  their  sessions. 

Resolved,  That  Dr.  Smyth  be  furnished  with  a 
copy  of  these  resolutions,  by  the  Clerk. 

Extract  from  the  Minutes  of  Session. 

J.  ADGER  SMYTH, 

Clerk  of  Session. 


Rev.  Thomas  Smyth,  D.  D.: 

Dear  Brother  :  At  the  recent  sessions  of  the  Synod 
of  South  Carolina,  at  Anderson  C.  H.,  S.  C,  the  fol- 
lowing minute  was  adopted,  viz  : 

"A  communication  from  our  venerable  Brother, 
Rev.  Thomas  Smyth,  D.  D.,  with  reference  to  his 
feeble  health,  was  read ;  and,  on  motion  of  Rev.  Dr. 
J.  L.  Wilson,  the  Stated  Clerk  was  directed  to  write  a 
suitable  letter  to  Dr.  Smyth,  expressive  of  the  tender 
interest  and  sympathy  of  this  Synod  in  the  trials  of 
our  afflicted  Brother." 

Previous  to  the  meeting  of  Synod,  we  had  heard, 
with  profound  sorrow,  of  the  feeble  health  and  sore 
trials  with  which  it  had  pleased  the  Lord  to  afflict 
you  ;  and  now  your  letter  reminds  us  not  only  of 
your  continued  afflictions,  but  also  that  we  are  de- 
prived of  your  presence  and  valuable  counsels  in  our 
assembly.  But  we  rejoice  to  learn  that  there  are  evi- 
dences of  returning  health,  and  restoration  to  those 
useful  labors  for  which  the  Master  has  so  well  litted 
you,  and  in  the  successful  prosecution  of  which  your 
whole  ministerial  life  has  been  so  eminently  blessed. 
It  is  our  earnest  prayer  that  our  Lord  may  long  spare 
you  for  great  usefulness  in  the  Church,  and  that  He 
will  continue  to  support  and  comfort  you  in  all  the 
trials  through  which  you  may  be  called  to  pass. 
Venerable  and  beloved  Brother,  we  need  not  remind 
you  of  the  unfailing  source  of  strength  and  consola- 
tion for  all  the  weak  and  afflicted  children  of  God. 
Your  own  happy  experience  testifies  more  fully  than 
any  thing  we  can  say  to  the  abounding  grace  of  God, 
the  preciousness  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  comfort- 
ing presence  of  the   Holy  Ghost.     From  the  pulpit 


10 


and  the  press,  your  eloquent  words  have  often  con- 
veyed comfort  to  thousands  of  the  afflicted  people 
of  God,  as  you  portrayed  the  love,  the  sympathy 
and  preciousness  of  Him  who  is  almighty  to  save, 
and  who  sustains  to  all  His  suffering  people  a  rela- 
tion infinitely  dearer  than  that  of  any  earthly  friend. 
Take,  then,  dear  Brother,  that  precious  comfort  from 
the  promises  of  God,  to  which  you  have  so  often 
directed  us. 

Long  will  the  Synod  remember  the  delightful  re- 
freshment afforded  by  one  of  your  last  sermons  de- 
livered before  us,  (at  the  Brick  Church  in  Sumter, 
shortly  after  the  close  of  the  late  war,)  in  which  you 
spoke  of  the  tender  love  of  our  Saviour,  His  presence 
and  sympathy  in  all  our  personal  trials,  and  His 
almighty  power  and  constant  care  over  His  Church. 

Nor  can  your  brethren,  especially  those  of  us  who 
have  been  long  associated  with  you  in  the  Synod  of 
South  Carolina  and  Georgia,  and  afterwards  in  the 
Synod  of  South  Carolina,  forget  the  deep  interest 
you  excited  in  our  breasts,  in  behalf  of  the  great  work 
of  Foreign  Missions,  and  the  prosperity  of  our  Theo- 
logical Seminary  at  Columbia,  an  institution  which 
we  trust  will  be  perpetuated  in  our  Church  in  connec- 
tion with  your  name. 

It  is,  indeed,  a  dark  Providence,  by  which  our 
Synod,  within  five  or  six  years  past,  has  lost  so  many 
of  its  faithful  and  active  members.  From  the  roll  of 
our  Synod,  about  one-fourth  of  our  number  has  been 
lost  by  death  and  removal  to  other  fields  of  labor, 
while  comparatively  few  have  come  in  to  recruit  our 
ranks.  And  soon,  doubtless,  others  must  cease  from 
our  ministry  here.  How  much,  then,  dear  Brother, 
as  a  Synod,  do  we  feel  the  affliction  which  deprives 


II 


us  of  the  presence  and  counsels  of  one  whom  we 
venerate  and  love  so  much.  And  if  we  should  not 
be  permitted  to  enjoy  your  presence,  and  be  guided 
by  your  wisdom  and  experience  in  our  annual  Sy- 
nodical  meetings  on  earth,  we  trust  that,  by  Divine 
grace,  in  due  time,  we  shall  meet  you  in  "  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  and  the  Church  of  the  first  born  writ- 
ten in  Heaven." 

Yours  in  the  bonds  of  tender  sympathy  and  Christ- 
ian affection. 

By  order  of  Synod. 

WM.  BANKS,  Stated  Clerk. 

Anderson,  S.  C,  November  iSth,  1870. 


REV.  B.  M.  PALMER,  D.  D. 

New  Orleans,  January  17th,  1873. 

"  Mf  Very  Dear  Friend  and  Brother:  I  was  greatly 
touched  to-day,  in  taking  a  letter  from  the  postoffice, 
and  upon  breaking  the  seal,  recognizing  the  familiar 
hand-writing,  crampt  now  and  trembling  with  disease, 
so  unlike  the  bold  and  easy  pen  with  which  you  wrote 
in  former  days.  It  was  kind  in  you  to  think  of  me  at 
all,  especially  to  take  the  trouble  of  writing  a  letter, 
so  affectionate  and  tender;  I  thank  you  for  it,  and 
can  but  feebly  express  the  gratitude  I  feel.  We  are 
burdened  just  now  with  a  great  sorrow,  and  our 
hearts  are  strangely  tender.  Every  word  of  sym- 
pathy and  love,  sweeps  across  them,  and  sets  the 
chords  to  trembling.         ***** 

You  too,  my  venerable  brother,  have  felt  the  sore 
discipline  of  God,  in  another  form.  Heavy  reverses 
of  earthly  fortune  ;  the  sudden  descent  from  affluence 


12 


to  dependent  poverty  ;  and  above  all,  the  premature 
decay  of  physical  power,  disabling  you  from  the 
work  you  so  much  love,  while  the  mental  faculties 
retain  all  their  original  activity  and  freshness.  This 
last  cannot  but  be  a  peculiar  trial,  drawing  as  deeply, 
as  any  other,  upon  the  submission  and  patience  of 
the  soul.  We  have  all  admired  the  cheerfulness 
with  which  you  have  borne  it,  the  constancy  of  your 
faith  in  the  Redeemer,  the  zeal  for  His  glory  which 
burns  yet  beneath  the  ashes  of  your  decaying  en- 
ergies, and  the  unsurpassed  power  of  will  which  has 
kept  you  alive  till  now.  We  have  not  only  admired, 
but  we  have  magnified  God  through  you  ;  and  it 
should  be  a  large  consolation  to  you  in  the  midst  of 
these  trials,  that  perhaps  never  in  the  day  of  your 
eloquence  and  power,  did  you  so  effectually  proclaim 
the  riches  of  divine  grace,  as  by  these  passive  Chris- 
tian virtues,  which  have  made  the  close  of  your  life 
so  illustrious.  It  would  be  a  partial  word  to  say 
merely,  that  you  have  the  constant  sympathy  of  all 
your  friends ;  you  have  immeasurably  more,  their 
warm  affection,  and  their  boundless  admiration,  in 
their  acceptance  of  you,  in  all  these  tribulations,  as 
a  faithful  witness  for  our  common  Master,  a  splendid 
exemplar  of  endurance,  through  the  power  of  a  holy 
and  increasing  love.  May  God  continue  to  bless  you 
to  the  end,  and  grant  to  you  the  great  privilege 
of  closing  the  scene  by  a  final,  and  clear  testimony 
to  the  abounding  riches  of  His  grace.  I  pray  fervent- 
ly that  your  life  may  run  out  clear  to  its  very  last 
drop,  and  that,  in  'the  full  exercise  of  all  your 
faculties,  you  may  tell  us  at  the  last,  how  unspeakably 
precious  Jesus  is  to  His  Saints." 


13 


[Neiv  York  Observer  J  April  16,  1874,] 

"  The  Christian  Warrior  Crowned,"  is  the  title  of  a 
Discourse  commemorative  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas 
Smyth,  for  many  years  well  and  widely  known  pastor 
of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  of  Charleston, 
S.  C.  He  was  born  at  Belfast  in  1808,  and  educated 
in  part  at  Belfast  College,  prosecuting  his  theological 
course  at  Highbury  College,  London,  and  completing 
it  after  coming  to  this  country  in  1830,  at  Princeton 
Seminary.  For  more  than  forty  years  he  continued 
in  his  pastoral  relations  to  the  same  people,  and  ac- 
quired a  reputation  for  scholarship,  ability  and  fidelity 
to  the  gospel  which  extended  over  the  land.  The 
author  of  the  discourse,  Dr.  Smyth's  successor,  the 
Rev.  G.  R.  Brackett,  pays  a  fitting  tribute  to  the 
character,  worth  and  labors  of  one  whose  name  fills  a 
large  place  in  the  Presbyterian  history  of  the  Southern 
States. 


[Southern   Presbyterian,  April  zt^^  1874.] 

The  Christian  Warrior  Crowned:  A  Discourse 
commemorative  of  the  life,  character  and  labors  of 
the  Rev.  Thomas  Smyth,  D.  D.  Delivered  in  the 
Second  Presbyterian  Church,  Charleston,  S.  C, 
December  14th,  1873.  By  the  Rev.  G.  R.  Brackett, 
Pastor.  Printed  at  request  of  the  congregation. 
Pp.  63.     8vo. 

A  beautiful  tribute  to  the  memory  of  the  old  and 
worn-out  Pastor,  by  his  youthful  successor  and  the 
flock  he  served  so  long  and  so  devotedly.  Mr. 
Brackett  makes  it  evident  on  every  page  that  the  pre- 
paration of  this  memorial  has  been  with  him  indeed 
a  labor  of  love.  Like  Elijah's  mantle  and  Elijah's 
3 


14 


spirit  which  were  both  given  to  Eh'sha  to  wear,  so 
may  the  energy,  and  the  courage,  and  the  force,  and 
the  untiring  patience  of  his  predecessor's  ministry  all 
belong  to  him  who  now  sustains  that  time-honored 
and  responsible  charge,  and  his  own  feeble  physical 
frame  equally  with  Dr.  Smyth's  be  replenished  con- 
tinually with  new  strength  to  run  a  race  equally  long 
and  equally  successful. 


\_Southern  Presbyterian^  April  30,   1 874.] 

AN  ESTIMATE  OF  TRUE  GREATNESS. 

The  late  Dr.  Smyth,  of  Charleston,  was  a  great 
man,  a  great  preacher  and  a  great  Christian.  The 
Rev.  Mr.  Brackett  has  very  successfully  exhibited 
the  leading  features  in  the  character  of  this  eminent 
servant  of  our  Church  in  his  Memorial  Sermon,  which 
we  noticed  last  week.  ,  Such  a  man,  and  such  a  min- 
ister as  Dr.  Smyth  was,  ought  not  to  be  suffered  to 
pass  from  amongst  the  Christian  people  of  his  genera- 
tion, not  to  say  the  members  of  our  own  Presbyterian 
communion,  without  some  such  effort  as  this  Memo- 
rial Discourse,  to  recount  his  merits,  record  his  labors 
and  set  forth  the  lessons  of  his  life.  Few  men  in  our 
Southern  Synods,  for  the  half  century  past,  have 
equalled  Dr.  Smyth  in  learning,  eloquence,  energy, 
courage,  faithfulness,  industry,  perseverance,  devo- 
tion and  whatever  other  qualities  go  to  make  up  ex- 
alted ministerial  character.  We  go  further  and  say 
that  few  equals  of  Dr.  Smyth,  in  all  these  respects, 
have  in  fifty  years  appeared  in  the  Presbyterian 
bodies  or  in  any  of  the  Christian  denominations  of  the 
whole  land. 


15 


Mr.  Brackett  has  faithfully  and  truly  sketched  the 
peculiar  characteristics  of  Dr.  Smyth,  as  a  preacher 
and  as  a  pastor,  giving  particular  prominence  to  the 
zeal  he  always  manifested  for  the  work  of  the  foreign 
propagation  of  the  faith.  In  this  matter  his  influence 
in  the  Synod  to  which  he  belonged  was  such  as 
hardly  any  other  man  amongst  us  has  exerted.  So 
likewise  Dr.  Smyth  was  greatly  distinguished  by  his 
affectionate  interest  in  the  colored  people,  and  by  his 
bold  advocacy  of  the  work  of  their  religious  instruc- 
tion. At  a  time  when  unchristian  prejudices  all 
around  him  opposed  this  righteous  undertaking  in  a 
certain  particular  form  assumed  by  it,  and  when  there 
was  required  a  truly  brave  soul  to  encounter  the  fu- 
rious and  wicked  opposition  excited,  he  stood  amongst 
the  foremost  in  defence  of  what  was  right  and  wise  and 
good. 

Very  properly  is  Dr.  Smyth  held  up  by  one  whom 
Mr.  Brackett  quotes  as  not  so  great  in  the  pulpit, 
where  generally  he  read  his  sermons,  as  he  was  in  the 
lecture-room  where  he  spoke  extempore ;  nor  so  great 
in  the  lecture-room  as  he  was  on  the  platform  ;  nor  so 
great  on  the  platform  as  he  was  on  the  floor  of  the 
deliberative  assembly ;  nor  so  great  there  when  upon 
the  strong  as  when  upon  the  weak  side.  It  was  in  reply, 
and  for  a  lost  cause  as  it  seemed,  and  when  there  was 
for  his  side  apparently  no  hope — it  was  then  especially 
that  Dr.  Smyth  was  great  and  dangerous  to  his  oppo- 
nents. Indeed,  it  is  our  opinion  that  Dr.  Smyth  was 
not  called  to  authorship,  but  oratory,  and  that  it  was 
speech  and  not  writing  for  which  he  was  so  pre-emi- 
nent. And  yet  he  certainly  accomplished  a  great 
deal  of  good  with  his  fearless,  able  and  zealous  pen  ; 
and  among-st  his  numerous  works  there  are  some  at 


i6 


least  which  seem  destined  to  live.  His  "Well  in  the 
Valley,"  and  his  ''  Why  do  I  Live  ?"  are  two  of  his 
works  signalized  by  his  memorialist,  and  very  justly, 
as  of  the  highest  merit,  whose  usefulness,  already 
very  marked,  time  is  not  likely  to  impair. 

After  all,  the  most  prominent  trait  of  Dr.  Smyth's 
character  was,  as  Mr.  Brackett  properly  says,  an 
indomitable  will.  Never  did  he  interpret  apparently 
insurmountable  obstacles  or  appalling  dangers  as  a 
providential  call  to  lay  down  his  arms  or  quit  the 
field  of  combat.  Difficulties  never  terrified  him- 
Opposition  only  goaded  him  to  more  resolute  and 
persevering  efforts.  The  greater  the  odds  against 
him,  the  higher  would  rise  his  courage  to  do  all  and 
dare  all  to  vindicate  his  principles.  He  even  held  that 
the  will  can  conquer  pain ;  and  so,  one  dark  and 
inclement  night,  his  whole  frame  writhing  in  agony, 
he  assumed  a  defiant  posture,  and  emphasizing  his 
words  with  his  crutch,  and  declaring  he  would  "stand 
it  no  longer,"  pushed  forth  into  the  dismal  dark 
against  all  remonstrances,  and  returned  not  until  after 
long-continued  gymnastic  exercises  in  the  open  air, 
such  as  he  was  accustomed  to,  he  came  back  as  a 
victor,  saying,  "I  told  you  so  ;  any  man  may  subdue 
pain,  if  he  only  has  the  will  to  do  it," 

It  is,  therefore,  when  we  view  Dr.  Smyth  as  a  suf- 
ferer, that  we  really  behold  him,  as  we  must  think,  in 
his  highest  and  truest  greatness.  He  was  a  sufferer 
indeed  all  his  life,  and  we  do  not  doubt  that  this 
discipline  of  pain  had  much  to  do  with  his  greatness. 
It  was  zuith  suffering  he  waged  his  most  heroic  fight, 
accomplishing  always  in  the  very  midst  of  it  his  full 
share  of  duty  and  of  toil.  Often  indeed  have  we 
said,  as   we  looked   upon    him    in    his    decrepitude. 


17 


"  There  goes  an  old,  worn-out  man  who  yet  has 
enough  energy  and  force  in  him  to  stock  three  or 
four  ordinary  young  ministers."  Judge  if  this  were 
not  true  greatness. 

Two  or  three  paragraphs  from  the  Memorial  Dis- 
course will  beautifully  illustrate  this  point : 

"  Few  men  would  have  so  valued  life,  or  regarded 
the  obligation  to  prolong  existence,  as  to  have  en- 
dured one-half  the  trouble  and  sacrifice  it  cost  him 
to  live  on  from  day  to  day.  Sometimes  when  look- 
ing upon  his  'poor  impoverished  limbs,  and  almost 
formless  frame,  that  he  felt  ought  to  be  in  the  grave, 
buried  out  of  sight,'  the  struggle  for  life  seemed 
utterly  hopeless  and  equally  undesirable.  But  the 
feeling  of  gloom  was  only  momentary,  like  the  shadow 
of  a  passing  cloud,  and  applying  again  and  more 
vigorously  the  spur  and  the  whip  of  resolution,  he 
roused  his  lagging  spirit,  and  the  old  war-horse  was 
again  shaking  the  dusty  plains  with  his  crippled,  but 
iron-shod  energies." 

"  Such  a  life  of  suffering  is  replete  with  valuable 
lessons.  ...  It  teaches,  first,  'that  great  health 
is  not  necessary  to  great  labor,  and  that  a  feeble  and 
imperfect  constitution  is  not  inconsistent  with  a  long 
life.'  The  adage,  that  'a  sound  mind  must  have  a 
sound  body,'  and  that  the  latter  is  essential  to  suc- 
cess, must  be  received  with  great  qualification.  The 
greatest  thinkers  and  workers  have,  probably,  been, 
on  the  whole,  among  the  least  healthy  and  vigorous, 
and  often  among  the  most  sickly,  dwelling  in  tene- 
ments, shaken  by  every  wind 

"  Neither  is  perfect,  uninterrupted  health,  necessary 
to  enjoyment.       '  I  am  often  as   merry  as   a   cricket 


i8 


which  I  have  been  endeavoring  to  attach  to  my  room, 
that  I  may  find  a  solace  in  its  livel}^  and  soothing  song, 
and  a  pleasing  remembrance  of  childhood's  scenes. 
I  often  soar  with  the  lark  in  its  jubilant  flight  toward 
heaven,  and  join  in  its  carol  and  ecstatic  rapture  and 
joy.  And  when  not  in  humor  of  positive  joy  and 
self-amusing  laughter,  I  can  often  sympathize  with 
the  peaceful,  playful  contentment  of  the  little  kittens 
that  perform  their  antics  around  my  table,  and  partake 
of  my  simple  fare.'  " 

"  About  four  years  before  his  tireless  energies  were 
released  from  the  fetters  of  the  flesh,  his  organs  of 
speech  were  suddenly  paralyzed  in  the  midst  of  his 
midnight  studies.  He  rose  to  call  a  servant  and  was 
surprised  to  find  that  he  was  incapable  of  articulating 
a  word.  Doubtless  believing  that  his  speech  was 
hopelessly  gone,  or  that  he  was  near  his  end,  he 
wrote  on  a  slip  of  paper,  to  his  wife,  '  Perfect  peace.' 
But  finding  that  his  general  health  was  not  seriously 
affected  by  this  local  paralysis,  he  immediately  ad- 
dressed himself  to  the  task  of  regaining  his  lost 
speech,  with  a  resolute  will  that  was  never  paralyzed 
by  discouragement  or  despair ;  and,  never  did  he 
appear  greater  in  all  his  grand  career,  than  when 
reciting,  hour  after  hour,  and  week  after  week,  the 
letters  of  the  alphabet,  advancing  from  vowels  and 
consonants  to  syllables,  and  from  monosyllables  to 
words  and  sentences,  until  upon  the  anvil  of  his  iron 
will,  he  broke  link  by  link  the  chains  that  bound  his 
eloquent  tongue,  and,  at  length,  shouting,  like  David 
of  old,  'Awake  up,  my  glory,'  his  voice  rang  again 
with  the  praises  of  the  sanctuary,  and  the  '  glad 
tidings  of  salvation.'  For  many  years,  every  one 
had  spoken  of  him  as  'the  zcofidc^fu/  man  ;'  but  when 


19 


his  mute  tongue  was  unloosed,  when  this  Sampson 
had  rent  asunder  his  fetters  with  the  sheer  force  of 
his  giant  will,  his  friends  were  themselves  dumb  with 
amazement." 


[Nc-w    York  Ohser-ver^  May  iS,   1874.] 

A  GREAT  AND  GOOD   IRISHMAN. 

BY    REV.    WM.  S.  PLUMER,  D.  D. 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Smyth,  D.  D.,  of  Charleston,  S. 
C,  is  no  more  among  the  dying,  but  among  the  liv- 
ing. He  has  gone  to  his  Father  and  his  God.  He 
has  left  behind  him  friends  who,  like  him,  have  wash- 
ed their  robes  and  made  them  white  in  the  blood  of 
the  Lamb. 

Dr.  Smyth  was  born  in  Belfast,  Ireland,  June  14, 
1808.  Like  many  other  distinguished  men,  he  felt 
through  life  a  great  indebtedness  to  maternal  love. 
After  his  mother's  death  he  wrote :  "  Most  blessed 
mother,  could  my  thanks  now  reach  thee  in  thy  bright 
throne  above,  I  should  here,  amid  these  falling  tears, 
pour  forth  the  grateful  acknowledgments  of  thy  long 
cherished  son.  I  love  to  think  of  thee,  my  mother, 
of  thy  illimitable,  inexhaustible  love." 

At  the  age  of  twenty-two  he  came  to  America,  a 
graduate  of  Belfast  College,  and  an  open  and  earnest 
professor  of  Christ's  religion.  He  was  received  into 
the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Patterson,  N.  J.,  in  1830. 
He  studied  at  Princeton  but  one  year,  and  in  Novem- 
ber, 1 83 1,  accepted  an  invitation  to  the  Second  Pres- 
byterian Church  in  Charleston,  S.  C.  Here  he  spent 
his   public   life    in   toils   and   labors   so  abundant,  so 


20 


various,  so  useful,  and  so  astonishing  as  to  be  a  won- 
der to  many. 

Not  a  few  of  Dr.  Smytli's  years  were  spent  in 
the  midst  of  pain  and  infirmity,  which  would  have 
effectually  laid  aside  from  labor  almost  any  other  man. 
One  stroke  of  enervating  and  paralytic  disease  follow- 
ed another  until  locomotion  was  difficult  or  impossi- 
ble, and  until  he  was  dumb  with  silence.  But  his 
amazing  will  determined  to  make  the  dumb  to  speak 
and  the  lame  to  walk,  and  he  did  it.  When  at  last 
able  to  say  to  his  tongue,  "Awake,  my  glory,"  it  was 
with  a  joy  as  exultant  and  as  grateful  as  perhaps  any 
one  has  ever  exercised. 

Of  the  life,  character  and  labors  of  this  excellent 
man,  we  have  a  charming  account  in  a  discourse 
preached  by  his  admiring  and  eloquent  successor, 
Rev.  G.  R.  Brackett.  It  covers  sixty-three  well-filled 
pages  8vo.  No  son  could  have  written  more  loving- 
ly. No  orator  could  have  uttered  more  exact 
truth.  This  discourse  has  been  very  properly  pub- 
lished at  the  request  of  the  congregation.  It  will  live 
and  be  read  with  interest  scores  of  years  to  come.  Its 
production  was,  without  doubt,  a  labor  of  love. 

Dr.  Smyth's  domestic  and  social  relations  were 
through  life  of  the  happiest  kind.  No  man  probably 
put  a  more  just  estimate  upon  such  blessings.  It  was 
a  blessed  privilege  to  see  him  in  the  bosom  of  his 
large  and  lovely  family. 

Dr.  Smyth's  views  of  the  ministry  closely  agreed 
with  those  of  Luther :  "A  preacher  must  be  both  a 
warrior  and  a  shepherd."  If  David  must  fight  with  a 
lion  and  a  bear  or  lose  one  of  his  lambs,  then  with  a 
lion  and  a  bear  David  will  fight,  and  God  will  give  the 
victory.     But   if  the  wild  beasts  wil4  let  him  and  his 


21 


flock  alone,  he  will  carry  the  lambs  in  his  bosom,  and 
gently  lead  his  burdened  ewes  to  green  pastures  and 
beside  the  still  waters. 

I  feel  very  sure  the  reader  will  thank  me  for  giving 
two  paragraphs  of  Dr.  Smyth's  fine  writing  quoted 
in  the  discourse  above  referred  to.  The  first  is  his 
description  of  pain :  "  I  have  often  thought  I  could 
write  a  natural  history  of  pain.  I  have  known  her 
from  childhood.  We  have  walked  arm  in  arm,  dwelt 
in  the  same  house,  been  occupants  of  the  same  bed. 
She  is  like  the  chameleon  of  every  hue,  and,  like  Pro- 
teus, of  every  shape.  She  is  sometimes  as  quick  as 
light,  and  again  like  an  Alexandrian  line,  *  drags  her 
slow  length  along.'  Sometimes  she  is  as  the  forked 
lightning  coursing  in  tortuous  torture  through  every 
limb  and  fibre  of  the  body,  and  dissolving  the  pent-up 
and  collected  clouds  of  bitterness  into  flooding  tears  ; 
and  sometimes  she  is  that  lightning  in  its  negative 
form  of  quiet,  dull  monotony,  or  occasional  playful 
flashes,  just  enough  to  rouse  the  attention  and  excite 
the  fancy.  Sometimes  she  languishes  into  the  faint 
tones  of  an  infant  talking  in  its  sleep,  or  like  the  bub- 
bling groan  of  some  strong  swimmer  in  his  agony,  or 
like  a  .strong  man  in  the  whirlwind  of  passion,  she  puts 
on  an  angel's  might  and  mystery  of  power." 

The  other  paragraph  displays  a  lovely  humility  and 
a  sweet  submission  to  God's  will :  "  I  am  sensible  of 
my  entire  weakness,  dependence  and  unworthiness. 
I  have  desired  to  take  my  place  and  position  as  God 
assigns  it,  neither  taking  the  direction,  nor  refusing  to 
follow  ;  neither  avoiding  humiliation  nor  exaltation  ; 
having  a  profound  sense  of  my  own  nothingness,  and 
of  my  ill-desert,  of  any — the  lowest  seat  among  the 
great,  wise  and  good,  and  yet  believing  I  can  be  and 


22 


do  all  things  God  requires  of  me,  through  his  wisdom 
guiding  and  his  grace  strengthening.  I  have  endeav- 
ored to  distrust  myself  without  distrusting  God,  and 
have  endured  many  rebuffs,  many  hard  blows,  many 
contemptuous  remarks  and  actions.  I  have  been 
scorched,  peeled  and  annihilated ;  filled  with  shame 
and  self-loathing,  and  would  gladly,  a  thousand  times, 
have  sunk  into  the  earth,  or  fallen  as  a  star  of  night, 
into  darkness  and  nothingness.  I  have  prayed  God 
to  disappoint  all  my  desires,  blast  all  my  schemes,  and 
throw  contempt  on  all  my  pride,  so  far  as  is  necessary 
to  my  sanctification  and  usefulness.  I  have  endeavor- 
ed to  walk  humbly  and  softly,  and  to  receive  as  well- 
deserved  the  chastisement  of  the  Lord.  If  a  course 
of  discouraging  circumstances  and  adverse  prospects 
be  designed  expressly  for  my  chastisement,  may  I  not 
hope  that  it  was  meant  in  mercy  ?  Raise  and  fix. 
Almighty  Spirit,  my  fainting,  wavering  heart,  to  a 
true  resignation,  the  only  atmosphere  of  peace.  Oh, 
penetrate  me  with  deeper,  holier,  happier  views  of 
things  eternal,  as  imminent  and  near  at  hand,  as  swiftly 
approaching  and  inconceivably  glorious.  Then,  oh 
my  God,  let  earthly  hopes  be  darkness,  earthly  joys 
expire,  intervening  sadness,  as  well  as  final  sickness 
and  death,  with  all  their  pains  lie  before  me,  I  will 
adore  thee  with  a  grateful  heart,  and  pray  never  more 
to  complain,  but  chide  my  every  regret,  and  suppress 
all  my  rcpinings." 


23 


LETTER  FROM  THE  REV.  H.  C.  DuBOSE. 

SoocHOw,  China,  Dec.  27,  1873. 
My  Very  Dear  Mrs.  Smyth: 

The  last  papers  have  brought  me  the  tidings  that 
your  honoured  husband  has  been  called  away  from 
the  scene  of  his  earthly  labours.  From  this  distant 
land  I  would  desire  to  drop  a  tear  upon  the  grave  of 
departed  worth. 

You  remember  when  it  was  I  first  saw  Dr.  Smyth. 
I  honoured  him  then  as  he  stood  amidthe  wreck  of  his 
bodily  powers  in  all  his  grandeur.  I  cannot  find  words 
to  tell  you  what  an  impression  he  made  upon  me. 
His  few  words  to  me,  from  time  to  time,  made  more 
impression  upon  me  than  the  mightiest  sermon.  He 
seemed  to  inspire  me  with  the  thought  of  trying  to  do 
mighty  things  for  the  Church  by  the  force  of  hard 
work,  and  oh  !  that  sublime  position  of  holy  adora- 
tion his  soul  had  attained.  The  Master  took  him 
home  full  of  glory.  He  has  been  a  giant  in  the 
Church.  Oh,  that  God  would  raise  up  an  army  of 
preachers  with  his  spirit. 

Most  sincerely  and  truly. 

Yours,  in  a  heathen  land, 

HAMPDEN  C.  DuBOSE. 


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